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PROCEEDINGS OF

LEXINGTON

HISTORICAL SOCIETY

AND PAPERS RELATING TO THE

HISTORY OF THE TOWN

READ BY SOME OF THE MEMBERS

VOL. II

LEXINGTON MASS.
PUBLISHED BY THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

I9OO

CONTENTS.

The First English Proprietors of the Site of Lexington

Village Carlton A. Staples 5

Lexington Sixty Years Ago Albert W. Bryant 19

Elias Phinney James P. Munroe 65

The Military Organizations of Lexington

Albert W. Bryant 85

Kite End A. Bradford Smith 99

Solomon Brown G.W.Brown 123

Some Account of Lieut. John Munroe, his Family and his

Farm Carlton A. Staples 131

History of the Stone Building ... A. Bradford Smith 144

Early Schools and Schoolmasters . . Carlton A. Staples 158

Reminiscences of the Fur Industry . . . George O. Smith 171

The Milk Business and Milk Men of Earlier Days . . .

George O. Smith 7 87

Work of Lexington Women in the War of the Rebellion.

Mary E. Hudson 197

Proceedings i. to xv.

Gifts xvi.

List of Members xxvii.

Index xxxi.

•

THE FIRST ENGLISH PROPRIETORS OF
THE SITE OF LEXINGTON VILLAGE.

Read by Rev. C. A. Staples, March 12, 1889.

IT would be interesting to know when and where
the first clearing was made and the first house built
on the land now occupied by the village of Lexington.
The ground, no doubt, was covered by a heavy growth
of timber and by fallen trees, large monarchs of the
forest that had been uprooted by the tempests and
lay strewn in every direction. To cut down the trees,
clear away the fallen wood and prepare the land for
gardens and fields must have been a difficult and
laborious undertaking. Who began this work here it
is impossible to determine ; and yet it must have been
commenced soon after the first settlement of Cam-
bridge. As early as 1636 a road was cut through the
woods from Cambridge to Concord for Rev. Peter
Bulkley and his company to transport their goods to
that place, where they formed a settlement. It prob-
ably ran through the woods near where our main street
and the Concord road are now located.

In 1635 Rev. Thomas Shepard came from England
with several friends and parishioners, and located at
Cambridge. Being a Puritan, he was ejected from his
pulpit in England, and for a time remained in conceal-
ment, to escape the persecuting zeal of Archbishop
Laud. At length he was able to elude the vigilance

6 FIRST ENGLISH PROPRIETORS.

of his enemies and take ship for America with some
of the men who had befriended him. In his company
was Roger Herlarkenden, a young man of twenty- four,
in whose house he had lain concealed.

When they arrived at Cambridge, then called New-
towne, they received a warm welcome from the
settlers, whose numbers had been greatly reduced by
the emigration of Rev. Mr. Hooker and his party to
Connecticut, where they formed the settlements at
Hartford, Windsor, and Weathersfield. The church
at Cambridge was without a pastor, and Mr. Shepard
was immediately installed in that office, where he re-
mained until his death, widely useful and greatly be-
loved. Roger Herlarkenden had left an elder brother,
Richard, in England, also a devoted friend to Mr.
Shepard, whom he desired to bring to America.
Probably to induce him to come, he obtained an ex-
tensive grant of land for him from the Cambridge
proprietors. According to the records that grant was
made January 2nd, 1636, and contained 600 acres of
upland and meadow at a place called Vine Brook, in
the Shawshine country, midway between Newtowne
and Concord.

Richard Herlarkenden was to have this land upon
the following conditions, viz : "1st. He was to send
over his man, or order some other man to build upon
it and improve it for him, the next summer after this
next ensuing, that is the summer of 1637, and this
spring, give certain intelligence that he will do so.
2d. That he come himself the next summer after,
being the third from this time (that is, the summer of

FIRS7 ENGLISH PR0PRIE10RS. 7

1638), and if he shall fail in any or all of these con-
ditions, then this grant to be void."

Now, there can be no doubt but that this grant
covers the site of Lexington village. It was on Vine
Brook, midway between Newtowne and Concord, and
lay on both sides of the brook, and on both sides of
the highway, as we learn from other descriptions of
it. But Richard Herlarkenden did not send over his
man, nor order some other man to begin a clearing
and build a house on the grant ; nor did he come him-
self, so this great tract of 600 acres, nearly a mile
square, was lost to him. However, on April 2d, 1638,
the grant was transferred to his brother, Roger Her-
larkenden, who promised to fulfill the conditions im-
posed by the proprietors. But whether he made an
attempt to clear the land and build we cannot tell, as
he died the same year, Nov, 17th, 1638, at the age of
27, leaving a widow and two children. His loss was
a great grief to Mr. Shepard and the Newtowne church.
At this time they were sadly disheartened, owing to
the abandonment of the place by so many families
which had removed to Connecticut, and to the death
of prominent men. But the college had been planted
there, and soon began to draw about it generous sup-
porters and friends.

The Herlarkenden name now disappears from our
history ; the children were girls and grew up in Cam-
bridge, but probably returned to England, and we
hear nothing further of their connection with the
Shawshine Grant.

A more imposing personage now appears upon the

8 FIRST ENGLISH PROPRIETORS.

scene, viz. : Herbert Pelham, of Essex County, Eng-
land, who came over in 1638 or 1639, and in 1643
married Elizabeth, the widow of Roger Herlarkenden,
for a second wife, and adopted her children. He came
into possession of the 600 acre grant made to the
Herlarkendens on Vine Brook, and for more than fifty
years it remained in the possession of the Pelham
family. At this time, viz.: in 1642, a house had been
erected on the Herlarkenden estate, as we learn from
the Cambridge records, built either by Roger or his
widow. The grant of this 600 acre tract to Herbert
Pelham mentions a house standing upon it. No doubt
this was the first erected within the bounds of the
present village. The fact that this land was granted
to Pelham by the proprietors shows that by some fail-
ure to comply with the original conditions, the Her-
larkendens had forfeited it.

I*et us look for a moment at the location of this
great estate. It is impossible to fix its boundaries
with precision, but from deeds given when it was
finally sold by the Pelhams in 1693, we can roughly
trace its outlines. On the south-west it was bounded
on Matthew Bridge, who owned what is now the
Valley Field Farm, and on the ministerial land, now
known as the Blasdell Place. On the north-west it
was bounded on the Eight Mile line, which ran back
of the old burying ground from east to west, and out
between Mr. Holt's and Mrs. Brigham's to the Woburn
line, striking it near what is known as the Round
House. On the north-east it was bounded by the
farms of Garver and Rolph, and on the south-east by

f' X

FIRST ENGLISH PROPRIETORS. 9

John Adams, John Russell and Cambridge town com-
mons. From these few points we learn that it ex-
tended from somewhere near Bloomfield Street over
the hill to the Bridge farm on the south, and on the
west, across the meadows to the foot of Concord Hill.
On the north to some point perhaps near Mr. Bettin-
son's, and east, through the Hayes estate out towards
the Scotland district, and so round through the cem-
etery to the starting point. Thus it covered the entire
site of the present village of Lexington, with the ex-
ception, probably, of John Munroe's farm, which in-
cluded Mr. Saville's place, with Belfry Hill and the
land extending back a little beyond Parker Street.

Here, then, was the Herlarkenden Grant, of which
Herbert Pelham came into possession in 1642, the year
before he took Roger's widow for a second wife, and
became the guardian for her children. Such was Mr.
Pelham's manor, or farm, which he cleared and tilled
while living in Cambridge, and which remained in
his family for half a century. What do we know
about these different proprietors ? As already men-
tioned, Roger Herlarkenden, the first proprietor, died
in 1638. He was evidently a man highly esteemed by
the Cambridge people, and his death, at the early age
of 27, was a great loss to the infant settlement. He
was Lieut. Colonel of a Regiment of Militia. In his
will he leaves £20 to the Church for the benefit of the
poor, and a mourning ring to his friend John Bridge.
When his estate came to be settled, the Church took
a cow in payment of the bequest and kept it for the
use of its needy members. First one family had the

IO FIRST ENGLISH PR0PRIE10RS.

cow for a time, and then another, and so the creature
was passed around among the beneficiaries of the
Church, until she fell into the decrepitude of years and
was given outright to the last family, and so Herlar-
kenden's provision for the poor finally disappeared.
What became of the mourning ring it is impossible to
say. Bequests for mourning rings to friends were
common in the wills of a century ago.

The second proprietor of Lexington village, as we
have seen, was Herbert Pelham, a country gentleman
of Essex County, England, where he possessed a large
estate, and was connected with the nobility, both on
the paternal and maternal sides. His mother was the
daughter of Lord Delaware, for whom one of the
American colonies was named. He was born in the
year 1600, and in 1624 married Jemima Waldegrave,
who died before he came to this country. Probably
he brought a large fortune with him, as we find that
he became the owner of extensive tracts of land
in Cambridge, Sudbury, Watertown and elsewhere.
He bought the house built by Governor Dudley in Cam-
bridge, and the large estate connected with it, where
he lived while he remained in this country. Soon
after his arrival he became interested in the college,
then just established, and was chosen its first treas-
urer. His sister, Penelope Pelham, came with him
from England, and his daughter, Penelope. The for-
mer became the second wife of Governor Bellingham,
and the latter the wife of Gov. Josiah Winslow, of
Plymouth. In 1643, he married, for a second wife,
Elizabeth Herlarkenden, by whom he had several

FIRST ENGLISH PROPRIETORS. n

♦

children, and, among others, a son Edward. About
1650 he returned to England to care for his extensive
landed estates, where he died in 1673, leaving all his
property in this country to his son Edward, including
the 600 acre tract covering the present village of
Lexington.

We come now to the third proprietor of our village,
Edward Pelham, who seems to have remained in this
country after his parents returned to England, prob-
ably in the care of his half sister, Mrs. Gov. Winslow.
He graduated from Harvard in the year of his father's
death, 1673, but without distinguished honors, if we
may judge from a provision of his father's will and an
incident related of him in the Court records of Cam-
bridge. The son seems to have been an idle, roister*
ing, dissipated fellow. In his will, made in 167a,
Herbert Pelham bequeathed all his estates in this
country to Edward, with additional property in Eng-
land ; but provides that he shall not have possession
of it unless he reforms his wild habits and becomes a
sober, studious and well-behaved man. This proper-
ty was to be vested in him whenever the governor or
any four magistrates, under their own hands, state
that he has reformed, and is not pretending to do so
to gain possession of it. If he should not reform, it
was to go to the other heirs.

In the Cambridge Court records there is an account
of the arrest of an innkeeper named Gibson for pro-
viding entertainment for the students in violation of
the law. The case was this : Edward Pelham, then
in college, while out hunting one day saw a boy pick-

12 FIRST ENGLISH PROPRIETORS.

•

ing apples in Mr. Marshall's orchard, adjoining Capt.
Gookin's. He gave the boy his gun and told him to
shoot a turkey standing on the fence, which the boy pro-
ceeded to do. Thereupon Pelham took the boy's coat,
wrapped it around the turkey, and carried it to the
innkeeper, to be prepared for supper. The man's wife
dressed and cooked it, and, at night, Pelham, with two
boon companions, had a sumptuous feast and jollifica-
tion over the stolen turkey at the innkeeper's house.
After hearing the case, the court sentenced the inn-
keeper to pay a fine of £2^ and to be committed until
it was paid. So far as the records show, the graceless
scamp who induced the boy to do the shooting, and
the innkeeper and his wife to receive the stolen goods,
which he assured them he came honestly by, escaped
sicot-free. It shows that money and parentage could
1 'shove by even-handed justice" in the olden time
quite as easily as to-day.

Now when this cowardly fellow, who induced
a boy to do what he dared not do himself, re-
formed and came into possession of the site of Lex-
ington and other estates, we have no means of
knowing. But it is evident that he succeeded in con-
vincing the governor, or the magistrates, before many
years, that he had abandoned his evil ways and was
to be trusted with the property. Graduating from
college in 1673, Edward Pelham married, soon after-
wards, a daughter of Gov. Benedict Arnold, of Rhode
Island. Nor need we be surprised at his reformation
in view of the fact that a splendid fortune awaited
him as soon as he could prove that he had reformed,

FIRST ENGLISH PROPRIETORS. 13

and also that he chose for his wife a girl bearing the
name of Godsgift Arnold. He was undoubtedly well
satisfied with the family connection, since, after the
death of his wife Godsgift, he seems to have married
her sister Freelove Arnold, for a second wife. Some-
time before 1693 he removed to Newport, R. I., where
Governor Arnold resided, and where the remainder of
his life was passed. He is spoken of in deeds as Ed Pel-
ham, Gentleman. It is said that he never engaged in
any business, and the highest honors he seems to have
attained were that of Captain in the R.I. Militia, and
that of a member of the General Assembly of Newport
Colony. Such was the third proprietor of Lexington
Village.

Before his father's ownership of this tract, the first
clearing must have been made and the first house built
in this village. The condition on which the original
grant was made required that this should be done in
the summer of 1637, and it is not probable that the
proprietors of Cambridge allowed Herbert Pelham to
retain the land unless he complied with it. Hence, it
is quite certain that a portion of it had been cleared
and a house erected before 1650, when Pelham re-
turned to England. Probably this house was used as
a tavern. The place was midway between Cambridge
and Concord and between Cambridge and Billerica,
both of which had become flourishing settlements by
that date. There is reason to believe that extensive
clearings and improvements were made on this tract
by the Pelhams during the 50 years that they owned
it. But we do not know that the father or the son

14 FIRST ENGLISH PROPRIETORS.

ever lived here, though it is not improbable that the
son did so for a short time.

But in October, 1693, he disposed of the entire tract
in three separate parcels. The first to Benjamin
Muzzey, of Cambridge, 206 acres "with dwelling
house and barn and out-housings, and containing
fields, pastures, meadow lands, stones, timber, wood
culture and other improvements thereto belonging."
Now this tract undoubtedly embraced the Merriam
place, and extended up Hancock Street on both sides,
including the Common and what was afterwards the
Hancock-Clark farm, while a portion lay on both sides
of Vine Brook, and ran out to the Matthew Bridge
farm. Not unlikely the dwelling house was on the
site of the Buckman Tavern, though I cannot think
that it was the present building. Such was the first
purchase made of Edward Pelham in October, 1693.
Benjamin Muzzey is first taxed in this parish in 1694,
and if he built the Buckman Tavern, now the Mer-
riam house, it is probable that it was at a later date.
It must have been a very costly house for that time,
such as only a man of wealth could afford. Whether
Muzzey was able to expend so much on a house at
that time I cannot tell. It is more probable, I think,
that he built it at a later period, after becoming a
prosperous innkeeper.

At the same time Edward Pelham sells to Rev.
Joseph Estabrook, of Concord, 200 acres on the south
side of Vine Brook, covering the places now owned
by Messrs. Shaw, Plumer, Fletcher, Russell, etc., in-
cluding the village at the crossing, and extending far

FIRST ENGLISH PROPRIETORS. 1 5

down the Woburn road towards Scotland. Rev.
Joseph Estabrook was the minister of Concord and
the father of Benjamin Estabrook, the first minister
of Lexington. His son, Benjamin, began preaching
here in 1692, but was not regularly settled until 1697,
and died in the following year. A house was built, for
him, by the parish, where the Plumer house now
stands, and it is said that a part of that house formed
the original parsonage erected for Benjamin Estabrook.
This tract seems to have been retained by the
Estabrook family for a long period. A portion of it
was occupied by Capt. Joseph Estabrook, who lived
near the crossing, and was the first school teacher of
I^exington, a position which he filled for several
years. Doubtless, Estabrook Hill takes its name from
the family.

There remained another 200 acre tract of the orig-
inal Pelham farm, which was sold at the same time
to John Poulter. It embraced the land from the
vicinity of Bloomfield Street down to Vine Brook, and
included the places of Messrs. Hunt, Viles, Butters,
the Baptist Church, and others, and extended back to
the Bridge farm. Thus, in this year, 1693, the Pelham
estate in Lexington was broken up, and finally dis-
posed of. It had been held by father and son for over
fifty years, and in that time only one dwelling house
had been erected on it. They had improved a consid-
erable portion of the land, but probably a much larger
portion was still covered by the primitive forest.

The history of the site of this village, which I have
briefly traced, accounts for the fact that, while the

1 6 FIRST ENGLISH PROPRIETORS.

outlying districts of the town were settled at an early
date and contained a considerable population, the
center was, for a long time, comparatively a wilder-
ness. It was owned in a wealthy family and kept in
one great farm. They rented portions of it, or culti-
vated it for themselves. Probably they expected that
it would ultimately become very valuable and add im-
mensely to their fortunes ; hence, they would neither
sell nor build upon it themselves. Thus the place
continued for half a century, in fields, pastures and
forests, when it might have been growing into a large
and prosperous village. A happy day it was for Lex-
ington, therefore, when Benjamin Muzzey, Joseph
Estabrook and John Poulter took deeds of the * c Pel-
ham Manor, " and that family which traced its lineage
back to the dukes and lords of England disappears
from the history of our village.

So far as I have been able to learn up to this time,
viz.: 1693, there was but one house here, that on the
part of the Edward Pelham farm sold to Benjamin
Muzzey, and which probably stood on the Merriam
place. And yet it is possible there might have been
others, since the land on the west side of Main Street,
from about Waltham Street up to the Charles Hudson
place, on Monument Street, was not included in the
Pelham farm. John Munroe certainly owned a tract
of land embracing the Saville place, and others adjoin-
ing it, on which Pelham was bounded. Here he may
have built before 1693. The first meeting-house had
been erected the previous year. But, besides the
Pelham house, and possibly the Munroe house, there

FIRST ENGLISH PROPRIETORS. 17

were no others at that time in the village of Lexing-
ton, so far as I have been able to ascertain, and yet
there must have been nearly forty families, or nearly
two hundred people, within the bounds of what is now
Lexington.

Edward Pelham died at Newport in 1730, leaving
two sons, Edward and Thomas, and two or more
daughters. He left, by will, large tracts of land in
Cambridge and Watertown, inherited from his father,
to his sons Edward and Thomas, both of whom lived
and died in Newport, where they were known as
gentlemen, doing no business, but living on the in-
come of their property. The daughters married into
some of Newport's aristocratic families. But the
Pelham name has become extinct in that ancient city,
though perpetuated until quite recently upon one of
the principal hotels, which, I think, occupied the site
of the Pelham mansion. Thus, the history of our
village carries us back to a family that flourished in
England during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth, James
I, Charles I, the great Protector Cromwell, Charles II
and James II, and maintained their hold upon our
territory into the reign of William and Mary. In the
early settlement of the town they possessed the cen-
tral and most desirable portion for improvement, but
like other speculators, they waited for more enterpris-
ing men to improve the town and enhance the value
of their property. There is nothing to show on the
various subscription papers on our records, for meet-
ing-house and minister, for buying the common and
the parish land, that they ever contributed anything

1 8 FIRST ENGLISH PROPRIETORS.

to encourage and help the hardy men and women
struggling here to found and perpetuate a Christian
civilization. Other men labored to clear the forests
and plant the fields, and make the wilderness smile
and blossom as the rose, while the Pelhams lived
in expectation of entering into those labors and reap-
ing a golden harvest.

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

RKad by Albert W. Bryant, Jan. 14 and Feb. ii, 1890.

To obtain an idea of the general appearance of
Main Street (now Massachusetts Avenue) as it was
sixty or sixty-five years ago, would be also to pass
over and notice some of the outlying roads in town.
Then the convenience of a side- walk was not enjoyed
or its necessity realized; the street, where fenced at
all, was by a roughly laid stone- wall, and I do not re-
call a single attempt towards beautifying or orna-
menting by graded lawns or flower-beds or even by
walks. The door yards were often used for the wood
pile, and in several instances pig-pens were located
nearly in front of the houses. Very few of the dwell-
ings were ever painted, and those that were with only
one coat, applied at the time of building. Not a
house, to my recollection, had blinds on the windows.
The general appearance of all the buildings, with
scarcely an exception, was one of neglect.

At the time to which I refer the appropriation for
repairs of highways, was only a few hundred dollars,
and it was optional with the tax-payer to pay in
money or to work out his amount on the road under
supervision of the surveyor, the highway apportion-
ment of every person's tax being made separate. I
believe there never was an instance known where a
person became injured by extra exertion in working

20 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

out his tax. The method of repairing the roads was
merely to make them passable. There were several
low places by the wayside that were used for com-
posting fertilizers, and refuse material from the barn
yards and other places was dumped there.

There were three places on this street that were
used for watering purposes ; on the north side of the
road where Vine Brook crosses, was a driveway pass-
ing through the brook; at Brown's Brook, in East
Lexington, was a driveway on the south side of the
road through which teams could pass; and another
place nearly opposite Independence Avenue in East
Lexington, was used only a portion of the year, as
the brook was often dry ; this place was the first one
discontinued, Vine Brook next, and Brown's Brook
last.

On entering this town sixty years ago from West
Cambridge (now Arlingt<fn), the first building then to
be noticed is now standing on the south side of Main
Street, and is occupied as a dwelling. Then it was
nearly new and was used in part for storage and for
the dressing of poultry. It was here that Mr, Nathan
Robbins received his first instruction in that business ;
he soon after became one of the first occupants of
Quincy Market in Boston, and remained there until
his death.

Eight or ten rods back of this building was a two-
storied dwelling-house standing end- wise to the street,
owned by Nathan Blodgett, who, with his family,
consisting of two girls and four boys, resided there.
The two oldest sons, John and Aaron, were at that

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 21

time engaged in the butchering business, and, for
those days, were transacting a very extensive trade,
sending three or four wagons with meat through this
and adjoining towns ; also one to Boston. They were
undignified in manners, coarse in speech, and unscru-
pulous in their dealings, and, as a natural consequence,
soon became involved in debt, and left town suddenly,
or in other words, ran away.

This estate soon after passed into the possession of
Micajah Locke, who resided there and owned the pro-
perty now occupied by Franklin Alderman. Micajah
Locke came from that part of West Cambridge which
is now a part of Winchester. He owned a large tract
of land on both sides of Main Street, extending a long
distance into what is now Arlington. Besides the
care of this large farm, he was engaged in what was
then called the " meal business.'* In those days it
was the custom to carry meal to Boston and to deliver
it to families and stores in the manner that milk is
now distributed. After disposing of the load, grain
sufficient to meet the supply for the following day
would be purchased. One of the principal places at
that time for the sale of grain was from vessels, which
were generally found in Mill Creek, that extended
from Charles River nearly to Hanover Street. On
both sides of this creek could then be seen small ves-
sels discharging their cargoes of wood, hay, lime,
etc. This creek was filled up in 1830, making what
is now Haymarket Square and Canal Street. After
these meal dealers had obtained their load of corn, it
was taken to one of the three mills in West Cambridge

22 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

and ground ready for the next day's demand. About
a dozen men were engaged in this business, and for
several years seemed to prosper ; but innovations soon
caused a decline, and it was finally suspended.

About ten or twelve rods back of Locke's house, on
what is now called Bow Street, was an ancient looking
house, owned and occupied by Stephen Winship and
his family, consisting of two sons and several daugh-
ters. This dwelling was unpainted, and by its dilapi-
dated appearance must have been built at least a
hundred years before the Revolutionary War. It was
two stories in front, with a long, slanting roof. In
this connection, I wish to allude to another subject.
Inquiry has been made regarding the location of the
first settlers in this town. It is evident that the first
houses built were on the outskirts. There were form-
erly three houses in East Lexington, situated about
mid- way between what is now Main Street and Lowell
Street, which Mr. Hudson overlooked, as no mention
is made of them in his c * History of Lexington, ' ' and
I am led to believe that these three houses were among
the first built, if not the first.

It is well known that the early settlers generally
located near a stream of water. The first grain mill
built in Cambridge (or New Towne, as it was then
called) was the Cutter Mill near the centre of Arling-
ton, which was near the outlet of Munroe's Brook.
Now it is known that this brook was followed up to
its source, for we find that in 1642 Edward Winship
became a large land holder in the north-east part of
the town, his possessions extending nearly from what

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 23

is now Maple Street into Arlington, and from Main
Street to Lowell Street. He died in 1688, and in his
will, dated 1685, he divided his lands among his three
sons. He gave to Ephraim a house and certain land ;
to Samuel, lands and a saw mill ; to Edward, lands ;
no mention is made of other houses, yet there were
three houses on his property at the time of his death.
Originally there was a way leading from what is now
Lowell Street, near the house of Mr. Charles Win-
ship, to near the head of the great meadows; this
pathway was over lands of Edward Winship its entire
length, and is traceable at this time. Within a few
rods of the terminus of this way, was the dwelling
house given to Ephraim Winship, as named in the
will of his father.

Many years ago I was informed by a man who, if now
living, would be one hundred and twenty-five years
old, that this house was taken down and a portion of
it was used in building the house now standing oppo«
site the Village Hall in East Lexington. This state*
ment can be verified by an examination of the frame,
as seen from the cellar, which shows that it had been
previously used. This house when taken down had
the appearance of being very old.

The lane adjoining Winship on the north side
was then owned by Deacon James Brown, and ex-
tended to near Woburn Street. On this land of
Brown's, and only a short distance from the head of
Munroe's Brook, were two houses, the brook running
between them. The cellars and a well are yet discern-
ible. It is known that these houses were removed

24 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

more than a century since. Now, there was a stone
bridge over the brook by which to pass to these
houses, and the covering stones to this bridge were
worn so smooth as to show that there had been a great
deal of passing over them ; therefore, it seems to me
that these two houses and the one belonging to Eph-
raim Winship must have been among the first erected
in town.*

Edward Winship, Jr., who was the direct ancestor
of Stephen, five generations back, and who lived more
than two hundred years ago, was given all the lands
on the east side of the brook, with the saw mill. This
mill must have been changed to a grist mill at an
early date, for a grain mill was known there for a
hundred years or more. Near this mill was a malt-
house, which, I remember, had the appearance of
being as old as the mill and the house. I have been
unable to learn the history of this malt-house, the
stone basement of which still exists.

After 1820, the mill had different owners, who, from
time to time, enlarged it until it was nearly two hun-
dred feet in length. It was used for grinding drugs,
chemicals and spices ; but more particularly for fur-
dressing. It was burned about ten years ago.

* In speaking of this location, I am reminded of a custom which was
enjoyed seventy years or more ago by some of the Lexington girls.
Near one of these houses was a large apple tree, known by the name of
" Old Abram." I remember the tree very well, and have eaten many an
apple from it. It was the custom for many years for three daughters of
Nathan Russell, who lived where Mr. Snow now does on Woburn Street,
two daughters of Mr. Morrell, of East Lexington, three daughters of James
Brown, two, also, of John Brown, and three of my sisters, to meet under
this apple tree on May morning. After weaving a wreath of flowers
around its trunk, they joined hands and danced their May morning dance
around it

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 25

Another portion of the Winship estate adjoining his
brother Ephraim's land, was given to Samuel. This
land embraced that on which the public house now
stands in East Lexington. A house, which was known
to be very old, stood a few rods back of the hotel
upon this land of Samuel Winship's, and was burned
a few years since.

On the site now occupied by the Willard House (or
Lexington Inn) stood, in 1825, a public house kept by
Stephen Robbins, Jr., who was also engaged in cigar
manufacturing. This house was of two stories, with
an annex about 150 feet in length, the lower part
being used for a shed, and the upper part finished for
sleeping rooms, extending to the barn, which was
placed broadside, and as near as possible to the road-
way. All the barns belonging to the eight or nine
public houses in town were thus arranged, to enable
heavily loaded teams to pass in and out.

Robbins proved a failure as a landlord. He removed
to Boston, continuing the cigar business there. The
property came into the possession of Stephen Rob-
bins's son, who added a large hall to the house, and
leased the property to a man by the name of Richard-
son, who proved a popular landlord for many years.
The new hall was opened by a military ball given by
the Lexington Artillery Company. This public house
was kept with varied success until it was burned a few
years since.

On the opposite side of the street was, at that time,
a one-story building, used as a grocery store. My
first recollection of a store was going with my father

26 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

to this one after a week's supply of groceries, which
usually included a gallon of New England rum and
two quarts of Holland gin, put up in wooden, barrel
shaped, bottles. The gallon of rum was for the work-
men employed in my father's blacksmith shop. It
was the custom then to commence work at sunrise and
to continue until sunset, except from the 20th of Sep-
tember to the 20th of March, when the men worked
until 9 o'clock P. M.

The men, before commencing their daily labor,
invariably had what was called a " sling," made by
filling a tumbler about half full of rum, sweetened
with brown sugar, and with warm water added to suit
the taste. Sometimes this was changed by using
molasses instead of sugar ; then it was called l ' black-
strap." At eleven o'clock in the forenoon and at
four o'clock in the afternoon the drink was again
prepared. At the latter hour cold water was substi-
tuted for warm, and the drink was called " toddy."

A short distance from these buildings was a black-
smith's shop, the business of which was carried on for
many years by several different persons with but little
success. It was very necessary in those days that a
blacksmith's shop should be located as near as possible
to the public houses, since the large amount of heavy
teaming from Vermont and New Hampshire required
much repairing and horse shoeing, a great deal of this
work being done in the night time.

The amount of travel through town previous to the
building of the Fitchburg Railroad can hardly now
be realized. There were regular transportation teams,

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 27

with four to eight horses each, running weekly or
fortnightly from Vermont and New Hampshire, the
eight or more public houses receiving their support
mainly from this source. The stabling of from fifty
to one hundred horses per night was not a rare occur-
rence.

In the winter twenty or more two-horse pungs were
not infrequently seen passing at once, with their
drivers standing on a projection placed for that purpose
in the rear. These pungs were called "pods," and
were loaded with pork, poultry, butter, cheese, etc.

The next building above the blacksmith's shop was
a small low-posted dwelling, still standing beside the
little burying ground. It is now painted white with
green blinds ; then it was unpainted and bore the
marks of age. It had three rooms, one used as a
workshop by its owner, Jonas Locke, whose occupa-
tion was that of a cobbler. He was called Merchant
Locke, or, as it was then pronounced, " marchant."

I remember as vividly as though it were but yester-
day, going with boots and shoes to be repaired, and
seeing him pounding leather upon his lap stone, look-
ing very singular with his steel-bowed spectacles with
glasses as large as a silver half-dollar. Locke was
very industrious, possessing a happy and contented
disposition, always cheerful and seemingly satisfied
with whatever occurred. He could be seen every
Sunday morning wending his way to church, regard-
less of the weather, although the church was distant
two miles.

On Sundays, at noon, the Dudley Tavern, as

28 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

it was called, situated only a few rods from the
meeting-house, was a rendezvous for those who lived
at so great a distance that time was insufficient for
them to go home and return in season for the after-
noon service, for it should be remembered that a good,
long service was always held in the afternoon. The
refreshments generally furnished were molasses gin-
gerbread with a glass or two of gin ; or, in winter, a
mug of flip.

These Sunday noon gatherings furnished an oppor-
tunity for social intercourse that must have been en-
joyable, for here the news of the past week could be
discussed, the prospects of the future considered ; and
perhaps the potations taken may, in some instances,
have aided them in taking a comprehensive view of
the forenoon's sermon.

A short distance from Locke's house, on the oppo-
site side of the street, was the house (now standing)
then occupied by David Penney. Penney was a potter
by trade, his shop stood opposite the post-office in
East Lexington, and was taken down about a century
since. The house in which Penney lived was built
by subscription, and was given to his eldest daughter
for a home, she having met with an accident requiring
the amputation of a limb, and incapacitating her from
earning a subsistence.

The next building on the street was a grocery store
occupied by Isaac Lawrence, who transacted quite a
business for those times, and, in addition, held during
the fall and winter months frequent poultry shootings.
These shootings were conducted as follows : The

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 29

proprietor Would purchase a quantity of turkeys,
geese and chickens, the price then being about one-
third that of the present ; a turkey or goose was placed
upon the ground about thirty rods distant from the
shooter, and ten cents per shot was charged. Chick-
ens were placed at fifteen rods, and five or six cents
per shot was charged. Sometimes these ventures
were quite profitable, especially if there were many
spectators and the bar was frequently visited. The
improvement that has been made in firearms would
now destroy every possible chance of profit in such
ventures.

These shootings usually ended by gambling in the
evenings. This evil soon increased to such an extent
that it was evident that some stringent measures
would have to be taken. Public notice was given that
a series of shootings would be held, once in two weeks,
at the public house in East Lexington, opposite Inde-
pendence Avenue. After one or two had taken place
it was ascertained that they were controlled by some
noted gamblers from Boston. Mr. Horatio Welling-
ton, of Charlestown, then residing in Lexington, in-
formed me one day that a shooting was then in
progress. It was suggested that a raid be made that
evening. We called immediately upon Gen. Samuel
Chandler, who was high sheriff, and informed him of
our intention ; he readily assented to the proposition,
and summoned ten or twelve assistants to meet at my
house at nine o'clock that evening.

Dr. John Nelson, whose house was what is now a
part of the Russell house, being a trial Justice, issued

30 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

a search-warrant, and agreed to keep open house for
the reception. At nine o'clock, those persons sum-
moned met and were informed of the object of the
meeting. One of the number who would not be sus-
pected was sent as a spy to reconnoiter and report as
soon as possible. In about an hour he returned and
reported the situation of the rooms and the number
engaged in gambling. About n o'clock we started,
and went as quickly as possible to the house, each
man taking his position as previously instructed. My
duty was to follow close behind the officer, and to shut
the door as soon as the room was entered. Our en-
trance was made so noiselessly that we were not seen
until the officer placed his hands over the gambling
instruments. The leader of the gamblers, recognizing
the officer, said, " Well, boys, it's all up with us."
Eleven were arrested and marched at once before the
justice of the peace. They pleaded guilty, and paid
a fine of ten dollars and costs each. That was the
end of the last shoot in Lexington.

Opposite Lawrence's store was the residence and
shop of Solomon Harrington, a boot and shoe manu-
facturer. As Boston was the market for his goods,
he removed his business there in 1828. He was a
worthy citizen and respected for his honest and up-
right dealing. When the military company called
the l ' Lexington Rifle Rangers ' ' was organized in
1822, he became an active member, and maintained
an unabated interest in the company, resigning the
office of captain upon his removal from town.

The brook which crosses Main Street is known as

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 3 1

Brown's Brook, because it commenced and ran through
the farm of James Brown. Mr. Brown was a promi-
nent citizen in town, owning a large farm, extending
from Main Street for a mile or more on Pleasant Street.
His father, Francis Brown, was one of the number
that stood on the Common on the morning of the 19th
of April, 1775, residing at that time in one of the
houses, then standing near Munroe's Brook, to which
reference has been made. The British soldiers were
plainly seen marching up the street on that morning
by Mrs. Brown and other members of the family, and
not knowing what might happen, and having an
elderly man in the family, with her advice he took
some of the household goods into the woods back of
the house, dug a hole in the ground and covered them
over with leaves. James, his son, of whom I am
speaking, married a daughter of Edmund Munroe,
who, also, was in the battle of the 19th of April, and
was afterwards killed at the battle of Monmouth.
James had six children : three sons and three daugh-
ters, five of whom are now living, their ages ranging
from seventy-four to ninety. Francis, the oldest son,
eighty-seven years of age, resides in Boston, and is
remarkably active, and retains a memory that is won-
derfully clear.

Opposite the residence of Mr. Brown was that of
Ambrose Morrell, who came from France, and engaged
in the fur dressing business, and for forty years or
more carried on a very large trade, having a salesroom
in Boston. The later portion of his life his son-in-
law was associated with him. Mr. Morrell was an

32 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

educated man, and became prominent as an active
citizen, ever ready and willing to co-operate in any
measure that tended towards the interest and pros-
perity of the town. He possessed a jovial disposition,
frequently manifested by quaint and humorous ex-
pressions, made particularly so by his singular pro-
nunciation. He always, for example, used the
singular number, never the plural. He was generous,
fond of debate and frank in expression. As an in-
stance of his frankness, a man who was thinking of
purchasing a horse from him, asked if the horse was
quick in motion. ct Yes, n said Mr. Morrell, "he is
as spry as the divil, he will fall down and and get up
as quick as a cat." His domestic relations were
pleasant, his business lucrative, and, being a man of
the strictest integrity, he enjoyed the confidence of
his townsmen. Mr. Morrell was one of sixteen mu-
sicians who formed a band and for several years
their services were frequently called for. The band
never gained much celebrity for musical proficiency,
but, if its music was occasionally a little discordant,
it would out-rank many a band of to-day in noise,
for every member's instrument was pressed to its
utmost capacity.

One of the most enterprising citizens that Lexing-
ton ever had was Stephen Robbins, Sr. His earliest
business was that of a fur dresser, in which he carried
on a trade so extensive as to require, at times, the
labor of over a hundred persons. He disposed of the
business to his son Eli, and then engaged in purchas-
ing and preparing wood and peat for the market.

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 33

His landed possessions covered a large portion of East
Lexington, including nearly all of the great meadows.
In the centre of the meadow he had three storage
buildings sufficiently large to hold one hundred cords
or more of peat. These buildings were placed by
frame- work about three feet above the ground, so that
when the meadows were flowed and frozen in the
winter the peat could be taken to market. A large
force of men, boys and horses was employed in the
summer months in preparing and housing this kind
of fuel, which was in common use in almost every
family before the introduction of coal. Robbins'
trade in wood exceeded that of any other dealer in this
vicinity. Wood by the hundred cords was stacked
in front of his house, around his buildings and on the
roadside. He was intelligent, shrewd in trade, per-
sistent in opinion, never yielding without compulsion,
and was social and agreeable in conversation ; but in
eccentricity it would be difficult to find his peer. His
manner was without formality. To anyone knocking
at his door, he would say, "Walk," never rising
from his chair to meet a visitor, but saying merely,
" Take a seat." When in the house he always oc-
cupied one particular place beside the large open
fireplace, sitting with his hat on from the time of
rising in the morning until retiring at night. It was
said that he did not remove it even then. His dress
was always the same : a long-bodied coat, then called
a " surtout," knee breeches, long stockings and shoes,
everything invariably the same in color and texture.
Among the very earliest of my recollections is of

34 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

being led by my sister, on a summer morning in 1820,
to school ; and the impressions of that day are as vivid
as though they were of yesterday. The school-house
which in 1820 stood on what is now Pleasant Street,
was an unpainted building about thirty feet in width
and forty feet in length, one story in height, but high-
posted. It stood endwise to the street, with one
entrance door. A recess of ten feet between the en-
trance and the school-room was used on the left side
as a deposit for hats, caps, etc., and on the right for
the firewood. Over the place for the wood a room
about ten feet square was partitioned off and called
the library, the entrance being from the school-room.
The teacher's desk was opposite the entrance ; it was
raised two feet above the floor, and was in the shape
of a half circle. Between the entrance and the desk
was an open space about ten feet wide and twenty
feet long, with the stove in the centre. On both sides
of this space was a partition four feet high extending
in front of the teacher's desk, except for the passage
way. Around the open space a board about a foot in
width, and raised a foot above the floor, served as a
seat for the small scholars. On the sides of the
school-room, excepting the entrance side, were placed
a continuous row of desks, fastened to the sides of the
building. A plank in front of the desks furnished
the seat, the scholars, when seated, facing the sides of
the building, with their backs to the school-room.
Over the entrance was a projecting gallery supported
by two pillars.

Many inquiries have been made about this school

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 35

building as to its origin, when it was built, and
by what means the town obtained possession of it,
whether by gift or purchase. I learn that an edu-
cated man by the name of Obadiah Parker, who
was much interested in the cause of education, came
to East Lexington and built the house for an academy,
whether by subscription or by his private means, I
cannot state. It was so arranged that dramatic per-
formances could be given, the gallery being intended
for the music, and the stage being made by removing
the teacher's desk. The school was prosperous and
well sustained for quite a length of time, but Parker,
who was town clerk in 1804, became financially in-
volved, and, to extricate himself, forged. He was de-
tected, convicted, and suddenly left for the West. Sev-
eral years afterwards he returned in disguise, but being
recognized and spoken to by two persons, he immed-
iately disappeared, and that was the last known of
him. The conclusions then were, that he ventured
to return in disguise for the purpose of ascertaining
the state of feeling in the town ; it was also supposed
that if he had found it safe to remain, and make him-
self known, he would have tried to realize from the
sale of the school-house.

Soon after he left the first time, a private school
was commenced and kept in the summer months by
Miss Betsey Fessenden, who continued for several
years. The terms were six and one- fourth cents per
week; the town paid a male teacher in the winter
months.

Adjoining the school-house premises was the resi-

36 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

dence of Eli Robbins, who for many years was
another of the most enterprising and energetic men
this town ever had. Upon receiving the fur-dressing
business from his father, he increased the facilities
for manufacturing by substituting machinery for
hand-labor, when practicable ; yet, with this addition,
a hundred or more hands were employed. Besides
the fur business, he had a dry-goods and grocery store,
carried on a large farm, and was largely engaged in
building. No one ever contributed more towards
making Main Street in East Lexington what it is at
the present time than he. Many of the large shade
trees were set out by him, and many of the buildings
he erected ; his lands were always for sale at reason-
able prices, and in every possible way»he was ever
ready to lend a helping hand to others. Strange as
it may seem, amid all the demands upon his time, he
for several years taught dancing in this and other
towns in the vicinity ; more, perhaps, for pleasure
than for profit. Although he had no knowledge of
music, he could play the violin quite skilfully, and
was the only person I ever saw that could play and
dance at the same time. The old adage so often ex-
emplified, of having too many irons in the fire, soon
brought reverses, which, with other circumstances,
reduced his resources beyond revival.

Robbins, while prosperous, took special interest in
what is called Mount Independence. After he had
erected a flag-staff, with a summer house around it,
had built several driveways and walks, and had other-
wise improved its appearance, the people in the

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 37

village to signify their appreciation of his public
spirit, concluded to have a celebration on the Fourth
of July. This project was successfully carried
through, for all in the village joined. A large tent
about two hundred feet in length was placed on the
hill, a part of it floored over for dancing, and the
other portion was used for dining and other purposes.
The exercises of the day were a salute and flag-
raising in the morning, an oration by Rev. Charles
Briggs, the only clergyman then in town, dinner in
the tent after the oration, a salute at sunset, and a
ball in the evening. So great was the enthusiasm
that the dancing continued for three successive even-
ings.

About the time of which I am speaking the town
purchased two fire engines and a fire department was
organized. An engine house, twelve by twenty feet,
was built in East Lexington and placed on a front
corner of the school-house yard. A company was
formed, and I had the honor of being elected clerk.
One of the first difficulties that came up was in the
selection of members, the applicants being far in ex-
cess of the number required, notwithstanding the
strictest discipline was maintained. This difficulty
continued for several years.

The company received a present of a large stone-
ware pitcher, holding several gallons. At the
annual meeting held for the choice of officers, a
committee of unquestionable ability would be ap-
pointed to prepare the pitcher for the purpose for
which it was presented. In its preparation the com-

38 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

ponant parts were made by estimate, and the most
scrupulous care was taken so as to give satisfaction.
Probably no committee could be more cautious in pre-
paring a report so as to avoid having their judgment
questioned, and several tests were required before the
report could be submitted. It was truly astonishing
how quickly a social, friendly and brotherly affection
would spring up after three or four potations had
been taken. The pitcher subsequently disappeared,
and its whereabouts are not known, though rumor
has it that it is concealed. In those days if any
compensation had been offered by the town, such an
offer would have been received with derision, for it
was a desire prompted by a sense of duty for the pro-
tection of property against fire that made the young
men willing to become firemen. When an alarm of
fire was heard every man, and sometimes woman, who
was able would, each with two water pails, hasten
to the fire. As there were no suction engines at
that time, a double line would form from the pump
nearest the fire and would pass the pails, as fast as
filled, down one line to the engine and up the other
line to the pump. In this manner the engine could
be kept working about one-fourth of the time, and
during the interval when the engine was not work-
ing, the fire would gain such headway that the
machine was useless, except in protecting adjoining
property. An assistant company was formed of
older persons who supplied themselves each with two
proper fireman's buckets made of leather with the
owner's name upon them. Shortly after the forma-

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 39

tion of this company the suction attachment was in-
troduced, and the services of the assistant company
were not required.

On the spot where the post-office now stands there
was formerly a shoemaker's shop occupied by
Michael Horton and Eli Whitney, their business
being in the line of repairing rather than of new
work. They lived in two small houses that were
built by Stephen Robbins and stood where the brick
store now is. When the store was erected the houses
were removed to the spot nearly opposite, where they
now are. A few rods north of the present post-office
was the large estate of Thomas Fessenden, whose
lands extended quite a distance on both sides
of the street. There were formerly three families in
town by the name of Fessenden. Nathan, who owned
a farm situated on what is now Lowell Street and
owned by his grandson who died about a year since ;
Ichabod, who owned the farm now occupied by the
heirs of P. P. Pierce, and who removed to Arlington
where many of his heirs are now living. The family
of Thomas consisted of his wife, one son and two
daughters. One of the daughters married and left
town, the other daughter married Elias Viles; she
was a school teacher for many years, both before her
marriage and after the death of her husband. The
son graduated from Harvard College, became a min-
ister and settled in the western part of the State ; his
sister, obtaining a school where he was located, re-
moved to that place. Mr. Fessenden died in 1804.
Mrs. Fessenden died in June, 1820.

40 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

This estate, soon after the death of Mrs Fes-
senden, passed into the hands of Francis Bowman,
Jr., a son of Francis Bowman who resided on a farm
on the street leading from Pleasant Street to Arling-
ton Heights. The Bowmans were among the early
settlers in this town, and the positions which each
successive generation occupied, both in church and
town affairs, show that they were respected for their
intelligence and integrity. Francis, senior, was re-
ported to have Indian blood, his dark and swarthy
complexion tending to confirm this impression. A
short distance in the rear of his house was a mound
resembling a grave, in which it was said an Indian
princess was buried. When I first saw this mound it
had the appearance of having been there for a long
time. Francis, junior, was intelligent and active but
strongly inclined to speculation ; he taught school
for several years in this town and Waltham, and was
also a civil engineer. Soon after taking possession
of the Fessenden estate he built a large barn on the
west side of the house and, connecting the house and
barn by a shed, opened a public house; but the in-
convenient arrangements and the lack of room in
the house proved a hindrance to success. He also
erected a building on the east side of the house about
one hundred feet in length and one and one-half
stories in height. Part of the building was used for
storage, and part was finished and occupied as a
grocery store. It was first kept by a Mr. Jewett, for
two or three years, who sold out to William Clapp,
brother-in-law to Bowman. This store was burned

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 4 1

about 1832, and Clapp removed to a building that
had recently been built adjoining the school-house
lot, remaining there until a new school-house was
built in 1837, when the old school building was re-
moved to the opposite side of the street, where it
now stands. He occupied this building until his
death in 1842. Bowman, while keeping a public
house, was interested in town affairs, also in various
speculations. It was through his instrumentality
that Mt. Independence was named. He purchased
a cannon, and several of his neighbors built the car-
riage for it; it was then taken to the top of the hill
and named " Old Tige." After being discharged a
few times, the big pitcher which I have mentioned
was also carried up and filled with punch. After the
punch had disappeared a bottle of wine was broken
upon the ground and the name was then pronounced.
Bowman disposed of his property in this town and
removed to Cambridge, engaging in the lumber
trade, the firm being Burrage & Bowman. Several
of his children are yet living.

The next place to the Bowman Tavern was the
residence of John Brown, who was a millwright by
trade. He was employed principally in towns where
there were water privileges for manufacturing. He
had a family of nine children.

On the opposite side of the street from Brown's was
the house and shop of Ebenezer White, who for many
years was engaged in blacksmithing. His success in
business was checked to such an extent by his pas-
sionate disposition that trade forsook him and he

42 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

sold the estate to Jacob Robinson, a mason, who for
many years carried on a successful business. Robin-
son was a native of this town, and a brother of
Charles Robinson, the father of Ex-Governor Robin-
son. He died childless, and his brother-in-law is
now the owner and occupant of the estate.

Among the earliest recollections of any individual
outside of my father's family, none is more distinct
than that of Jonathan Harrington. When I was six
or seven years of age, I used to pass, on my way to
and from school, his small work-shop, which in size
was about fifteen by twenty feet, and stood beside
the road nearly in front of his house. I frequently,
when hearing him at work, would step in and see
him repairing chairs, which then was the principal
part of his labor. I can never forget how intently I
would watch him when engaged with his lathe. He
prided himself upon his mechanical skill, and often
spoke somewhat boastingly of what he had done.
The specimens of his work that I have seen were
characterized more by their strength and durability
than by skillful workmanship. As he never served
an apprenticeship, and made all of his tools, includ-
ing his lathe, he undoubtedly possessed a natural
mechanical aptitude. I have heard it stated that he
made six mahogany chairs for Governor Brooks of
Medford, for which he received twenty-five dollars
apiece. In 1838 a young lady was visiting at his
house, and to show his regard for her, he made the
chair which I have been requested to present to this
Society. He was then about eighty years of age,

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 43

and it is the last chair he ever made. The letters and
figures on the under side of the seat were put there by
him. My acquaintance subsequently became more in-
timate, so much so that I was privileged to enter his
house without the usual formality of rapping at the
door. This freedom gave me the opportunity to ob-
serve his domestic arrangements, some of which
would not now be desirable. Many a time I have seen
the family sitting around their dining table, with the
food in a pewter dish in the centre of the table, and
its contents prepared for eating. If meat was one of
the articles, it would be cut in pieces of proper size
to be taken without the use of a knife, each one with
his fork would reach and take a piece when he chose.
A mug of cider was an invariable accompaniment.
His family at that time consisted of himself, wife,
son and daughter, and they were called Uncle Daunt,
Aunt Daunt, Young Daunt and Nabby Daunt. An
idea of his looks can be had from the picture of him in
the History of Lexington, which is a perfect like-
ness. He was tall and slim, very social and commu-
nicative and fond of fun.

Robert Harrington, the grandfather of Jonathan,
came from Watertown and located at what is now
the corner of Maple and Main Streets, where Walter
Wellington resides. He was a blacksmith, his shop
standing nearly opposite his house. The spot was
pointed out to me more than fifty years ago by
Abijah Harrington, a grandson, who worked in the
shop when a young man. At the death of Jona-
than's grandfather, in 1774, his real estate was

44 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO,

divided between his two sons, Jonathan and Robert,
Robert taking the blacksmith shop . and the land on
the South side of Main Street, Jonathan taking the
dwelling house and the land on the north side of
Main Street and which extended from Maple Street
nearly to the post-office. At the death of Jonathan's
father, in 1809, his property was divided among his
four sons, Peter taking the homestead and a portion
of the land ; Charles having the land and the house, to
which I have referred, that belonged formerly to
Ephraim Winship, and was taken towards building
the house now opposite the village hall ; Jonathan,
junior, taking land and the house in which he lived
at the time of his death; Solomon receiving the
property now owned by the heirs of the late Loring
S. Pierce.

Jonathan Harrington was a charter member of a
Masonic lodge, instituted in 1797, that was located in
this town until about 1842. During the anti-masonic
excitement between 1830 and 1840, the lodge re-
mained inactive ; after the subsidence of the excite-
ment, it renewed its existence; and, as a large por-
tion of its younger members were residents of Arling-
ton, it was thought best to remove it to that town.
Harrington always retained a deep interest in the
order. After my connection with the lodge, he
wished me to call after every meeting and inform him
of all the transactions, and by this circumstance I
was on more familiar terms with the family than per-
haps any one else. A short time before his death I
called to see him. He said, "I cannot live much

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 45

longer, and after I am gone I wish you to call here
and get my masonic apron that I have had since the
formation of the lodge, and present it to the lodge."
He also expressed a wish to be buried with masonic
usages. The apron with his message inscribed upon
it, can now be seen in a suitable case in the lodge-
room in Arlington. On my way home from church
on a Sunday in March, 1854, I learned of his death,
and immediately notified the lodge, and also Mr.
Charles Brown, who was the representative from this
town to the Legislature. The next day Mr. Brown
announced to the Legislature Mr. Harrington's death.
The action taken by that body is given by Mr. Hud-
son in his history of Lexington.

I have recently seen a book that belonged to Jona-
than Harrington in which are recorded deaths from
1789 to 1849, in his own hand-writing. The follow-
ing are a few extracts :

"The King of England died 1836, aged 68. Napoleon Bonaparte
died in 1821 — a great warrior. General Lafayette, died in France,
aged 77 ; one who helped us with his troops and fleet in our struggle
of our Revolution with Great Britain, 1775."

" April 20th, 1835. The remains of the unfortunate victims who
fell on the memorable 19th of April, 1775, were taken up and de-
posited under the monument which was set up in memory of them ;
an oration was delivered by the Hon. Edward Everett, adapted to
the occasion, to a numerous assembly. There were ten survivors
present that were enrolled in Captain Parker's Company."

" Old Granny Francis died about So."

"Old widow Bemis, aged 96."

" Eldest daughter of Isaac Reed, aged 18."

"Old Barry, sudden, while eating."

"Betsey More died the week before Thanksgiving."

" Benj. Simonds, very sudden, while grinding oats for Benj. Reed."

46 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

" Late wife of John Smith died about this time."

"Peter Tulip, a black man."

"Aunt Ben More, Oct. 5."

" Eldest son of Attia Bstabrook died Nov. 19, 1826, the occasion
of his rapping the flint muzzle on the ground, went off and busted
against his bowels."

"Mary Stone, Sept. 28, 1801, of old maid."

Adjoining the residence of Jonathan Harrington
was that of his brother Charles, who, in addition to
carrying on a large farm, butchered to some extent,
and marketed his products in Lynn and Marblehead.
He was, when a young man, very strong and athletic;
it was said that once when coming out of a house of
one of his customers in Marblehead, he caught a
negro in the act of taking a quarter of lamb from his
cart; he seized the fellow, made him put the meat
back into the cart, then tied a rope around the
fellow's body, and fastening one end to the cart, drove
his horse at a quick pace for about a mile ; after horse-
whipping the fellow, he untied the rope and gave him
the meat he had stolen, with the advice that he would
not get away so easily next time. On the morning of
the 19th of April, 1775, his father hastily removed
his family to the house to which I have heretofore
alluded, which was a half mile or more from the main
street. Charles, then a lad 12 years old, seeing from
the house the soldiers marching up Main Street, ran
from the house and stood beside the road as they
passed along. When the family returned in the after-
noon, a British soldier ran out of the house, where he
had been resting on one of the beds ; he was ordered
to stop, but not heeding the order, he was fired at,

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 47

wounded in the arm and captured. He remained for
several years in the neighborhood as a laborer. Har-
rington lived to the ripe old age of 93 years, a worthy
and respected citizen.

The house which stood at the corner of Maple and
Main Streets, 65 years ago, and which was occupied
by Eben Pierce, was of ancient style, with a long
sloping roof. It must have been built at an early
date, for in 1820 it had a very dilapidated appearance.
I have a clear recollection of its condition for the
reason that it was plastered on the outside, and had
a dingy, yellowish look. The large elm tree now
standing there, that attracts so much attention both
for its size and symmetrical proportions, is connected
with the following tradition: Robert Harrington,
who lived at this place in 1732, was returning from
Salem, and to quicken the pace of his horse, got out
of his carriage and pulled or picked up a small switch ;
on reaching home he noticed some small roots on the
end of the switch; he planted it where it has been
standing for nearly 160 years.

On the north side of Main Street, at the junction
of Middle Street, was the large farm of Deacon James
Brown. Brown was in the direct line from the early
settlers in town, and each generation had been closely
identified with town and church affairs ; he was the
fourth one of that name who had been deacon of the
church. As a farmer he ranked among the foremost
of that day, and was the first to attempt to reclaim
meadow land by graveling and drainage. He always
had fine cattle, especially oxen. His family of five

48 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

boys and two girls, all of whom remained at home
until they grew up, were always comfortably clad,
and had the common necessaries of life, and this fam-
ily of nine persons were supported from the income
of the farm, although the stock of cattle kept was
small in comparison with the present time. They
raised their own beef, pork, grain and vegetables,
kept cows enough to furnish them with milk, butter
and cheese, and had sheep for a supply of wool suffi-
cient to meet their needs. I doubt not, comparing
the past with the present, that there was more real
social, domestic happiness enjoyed with the farmer's
life then than there is now. On the farm there were
two houses, one with the long, slanting roof, in which
the family lived, except the oldest son, who occupied
the other house. This was a two-storied house, evi-
dently built long before the one with the long roof.
It was unfinished inside ; the frame was of oak and the
window-glass diamond shaped. It was remodelled
and removed about 1830 to the front of the Nunn es-
tate. Subsequently it was removed to where it now
stands on Woburn Street, the second house on the left
after crossing the railroad. There was a small shop
then standing at the junction of Middle Street, a few
rods from the watering trough, which was formerly
used by Deacon Brown's father for nail making. All
the nails for building purposes were in those days
made by hand. When my father came to Lexington,
about the year 1800, he occupied this shop, until he
built on the land he had previously purchased of
Abijah Harrington.

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 49

Opposite the entrance to Maple Street is the farm
of the late P. P. Pierce. This place was purchased by
Reuben Pierce, father of P. P. Pierce, and was used
as a milk farm until lately. One of the staple com-
modities raised by the farmers of this town, for a half
or three fourths of a century, has been milk, and
among the first to carry it to Boston were Major Ben-
jamin O. Wellington, Phineas Lawrence and Nathaniel
Pierce. It first was carried in wooden bottles. This
business continued to increase, so that, at one time,
there were forty wagons sent daily to Boston carrying
100 barrels of milk.

On the south side of Main Street, at the junction of
Middle Street, was the blacksmith shop and dwelling
house of Josiah Bryant, who came to Lexington about
the year 1800, from Medford. He pursued the black,
smithing business for thirty-five years. For several
years after coming here he gave music lessons on
the fife and clarionet, and played for military com-
panies. He died in 1837, and two of his four chil-
dren are now living.

Near Munroe's Station, Main Street passes over
what is known as "Mason's Hollow." This name
was given by reason of one or more families of that
name who lived in the house a short distance west
from this station. Sixty-five years ago Jonathan
Wheelock ("Uncle Jack" he was called) lived in this
house. His wife was a daughter of Col. William
Munroe. Judge Winthrop of Cambridge owned a tract
of land opposite this house, on which he had a mul-
berry orchard, as he was then attempting the business

48 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 49

On the south side of Main Street, at the junction of
Middle Street, was the blacksmith shop and dwelling
house of Josiah Bryant, who came to Lexington about
the year 1800, from Medford. He pursued the black-
smithing business for thirty-five years. For several
years after coming here he gave music lessons on
the fife and clarionet, and played for military com-
panies. He died in 1837, and two of his four chil-
dren are now living.

Near Munroe's Station, Main Street passes over
what is known as " Mason's Hollow." This name
was given by reason of one or more families of that
name who lived in the house a short distance west
from this station. Sixty-five years ago Jonathan
Wheelock (" Uncle Jack" he was called) lived in this
house. His wife was a daughter of Col. William
Munroe. Judge Winthrop of Cambridge owned a tract
of land opposite this house, on which he had a mul-
berry orchard, as he was then attempting the business

50 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

of silk raising. Mrs. Wheelock had the care of the
silk worms, but the experiment proved unsuccessful.
This house was formerly occupied by John Mason,
and afterwards by his son John, who filled many im-
portant positions in town. He had two sons, Joseph
and Daniel. Joseph was a successful school-teacher
for many years, and was town clerk for 20 years. The
records which he kept show fine penmanship. Daniel,
his brother, I was intimately acquainted with. As
he was the last member of the Mason family, and was
somewhat eccentric in his dress and conversation, I
will briefly allude to him.

He was tall and slim, wore a long-bodied coat,
a broad-brimmed hat, and a leather apron reach-
ing nearly to his knees; he always carried a peck
basket on his arm, and a hoe handle answered
for a cane. His wife always wore a black dress,
and a black cap on her head. They were called
Uncle and Aunt Daniel. In 1825 they lived in
a small one-story house, which stood on the hill-side
where the house of Owen McDonald now stands. If
there ever was true matrimonial affinity, it was here
exemplified; they seemed to live each for the other,
cheerful, happy and contented, although their sup-
port was derived principally from charity, he earning
a little from repairing flag-bottomed chairs, yet
their wants were ever supplied, since it was a pleasure
to contribute to them, all was received with such
open-hearted thankfulness. My father leased a pas-
ture adjoining Mason's land, and it was my duty to
drive the cows to pasture past his house twice each

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 51

day. Notwithstanding the 63 years' difference in our
ages, he seemed to be pleased to tell me anecdotes.
I distinctly remember of being in his house one day
when he told how he got his wife. He said : " I had
got to be over 40 years of age, and happening to meet
some young ladies one of them asked me why I didn't
get married. I said, 'who would have me?' 'Oh,'
says one, 'Mrs. Cheney would jump at the chance.'
I told her I should not dare to ask Mrs. Cheney to be-
come my wife. 'We can tell you how to get her
without asking; you go to the town clerk and get
cried or published next Sunday.' " He thought he
would make the attempt. The next Sunday the an-
nouncement of his intention of marriage with Mrs.
Cheney was made by the town clerk. Mrs. Cheney
was surprised to hear of what had been done, and
sent him a note to call and see her. He said it was
with fear and trembling that he went, not knowing
what would be his reception. She very kindly asked
him if he knew how the intention came to be made;
he said he thought it best to make a full statement.
After hearing it she asked him what he intended to
do next. He told her he would let her decide what
was best. She finally said, "If you will promise me
that you will never do so again I will marry you."
So he promised and got a wife without asking.

The one-story house now standing a few rods south
of the Munroe place formerly belonged to Samuel
Downing, who occupied the basement for a wheel-
wright shop, two of his sons, Samuel and Lewis,
working with him. He suddenly left town and went

52 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

to Newburg, N. Y. His son Samuel continued the
business, and subsequently built a shop near by.
About 1836 he disposed of his interest in the business,
and purchased a tract of land on Lowell Street, where
he engaged in farming and carrying milk to Boston
for nearly twenty years. His sons not taking to
farming, he sold the farm to Benjamin Fiske, a re-
tired Boston merchant, and removed to Somerville,
where he died. Five of his children are living at the
present time. Lewis, the other son, went to Concord,
N. H., and commenced business, first by working
himself, and from that commencement has grown a
business that is now ranked among the foremost car-
riage manufactories in the United States.

My recollection of the Munroe Tavern dates back
to the time when I was large enough to lead or ride
horses from the Munroe stables to my father's black-
smith shop, which I have done hundreds of times.
Afterwards I had the pleasure of being a school-mate
with Uncle Jonas's oldest son, William, and I am
happy to say that our friendship, which commenced
nearly three score and ten years ago, has never to this
day been interrupted. Another event which brings up
pleasant memories in connection with this place, is,
that it was here my first instruction in dancing was
received. It was in the old hall of this tavern that I
first heard the temperance subject discussed. For
many years Lyceum meetings were held there and in
other places in town, and sometimes questions for
discussion would be given. At one of the meetings
the question was, " Are intoxicating liquors beneficial

h-.

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 53

for any purpose?" Mr. John Mulliken took the
affirmative side, and Mr. Francis Wyman replied in
the negative.

The hall, when not wanted by the Masonic Lodge,
which held a prior right, was frequently occupied by
shows and exhibitions. An East Indian by the name
of Potter annually, for many years, gave exhibitions
in ventriloquism and legerdemain.

On one occasion an announcement was made that a
a professor would give an exhibition and introduce
the " Thimble Game." His performance proving to
be a catch-penny fraud, he was requested by his
audience to step to the door, where he was taken and
placed astride a rail, and carried at the head of a pro-
cession to the Monument House. After liquid refresh-
ments were taken, he was escorted back with the as-
surance that a coat made of tar and feathers would be
in readiness for his next performance.

A short distance west of the Munroe Tavern there
was a small, low-posted, unpainted, one-story house,
with but two rooms, and occupied by three aged
maiden ladies, whose names were Sarah, Anna and
Mary Bond. They died in 1829 and 1830, and were
the last, I believe, of that name in this town.

On the north side of Main Street was the old home-
stead of the Mullikens. At the time to which I refer
there were four brothers : Samuel, a physician, re-
siding in Dorchester ; Isaac, a carpenter, living on
Monument Street ; Nathaniel, a farmer, living oppo-
site the homestead ; and John, at the old home place.
John, in addition to farming, was a coffin-maker.

54 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

His shop — a not very pretentious building — stood at
a little distance from the house, quite near the road,
and for very many years he was the only person in
town who did this work. He filled the offices of town
clerk, selectman, etc. Two of his children are now
living.

Isaac, so far as I remember, always worked at his
trade. He served as selectman, and held other offices.
Nathaniel, in addition to his farming, was elected, at
times, to all the offices in town, so that a large por-
tion of his time was required in the discharge of pub-
lic trusts. He was very methodical and correct in the
performance of his duties, sedate in manner, and
positive in opinion. He was the father of twelve
children. The three brothers Mulliken were recog-
nized for their intelligence, their honesty and up-
rightness ; and the duties of the many offices they held
were always faithfully performed.

The residence of Mr. Tufts, on Main Street, was
formerly occupied by a Mr. Hunt, who was a wheel-
wright, his shop standing a few rods west of the
house. This shop was originally a school-house, and
by its shape, the roof having four sides, rising to a
point in the centre, I think it must have been the
school-building placed on the common in 1761, and
removed to give place to another in 1795. Hunt's
family consisted of himself, wife and adopted daugh-
ter. He removed to East Cambridge, purchasing the
property where the slaughtering establishment of
John P. Squire is situated. The house and shop were
subsequently occupied by Horace Skilton, a carpenter.

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 55

The property has changed owners several times since.

The residence of Mr. Bowen was, at the time to
which I am referring, owned by Abel Fitz, a mill-
wright by trade, who removed to Charlestown, and
took charge of a grain mill at Charlestown Neck, as
it was then called. Some years after his removal, a
building was placed a few rods east of the house, and
used for a baker's shop. The business was commenced
by a Mr. Short, who kept a singing school in the
winter months. He was succeeded by a German
named Schwartz, who, in a year or two, sold to Rich-
ard Eaton. Eaton not finding the business remunera-
tive, finally abandoned it.

The building used for the bakery, I am inclined to
believe, was one of the school-houses built in 1830,
and removed in 1837. After the baking business
closed, the building was removed to Waltham Street,
and is the dwelling house now owned by Mr. Smith.

In the front part of the building now used by Mr.
Prescott as a dwelling, a grocery store was kept by
Gen. Samuel Chandler for several years previous to
1825, when he took charge of the Monument House.
His brother Abiel continued the store for some time,
but, the location proving unsuitable, the business was
closed up. Before the Baptists had a church organi-
zation, they had occasional preaching in this building.
It was afterwards purchased by Stephen Cutter, of
Charlestown, whose family resided here for many
years.

Col. William Munroe owned and occupied the
premises now owned by Mr. Griffiths. The Colonel,

56 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

as I remember him, was short and thick-set,
had a jovial disposition, and was fond of mirth-
fulness even wheii he was more than eighty years
of age.

The house a short distance east of the High School
Building was formerly occupied by Abijah Harring-
ton, who was born in East Lexington, and owned the
farm now belonging to the heirs of P. P. Pierce,
which he sold to Ichabod Fessenden. He afterwards
owned what is now a part of the Russell House, and
lived there until the death of his first wife in 1822.
He sold this estate to Rev. Charles Briggs, married
again in 1823, an ^ lived on Middle Street. In 1825
he removed to the house near the High School Build-
ing. When he lived on Middle Street, a near neigh-
bor to my home, I was ten years old. I had in the
winter set about two dozen traps for muskrats at a few
rods from his house. He proposed to tend the traps
for half of the catch. In the spring he requested me
to make an equal division of the skins ; and, after
taking my half, I remember how happily he surprised
me by giving me his half, also. In his younger days
he was fond of hunting and gunning, and was called
an excellent shot. When the battle of Lexington
took place he was thirteen years of age, and lived with
his father, Robert Harrington, in East Lexington.
He told me about going up to the Common on that
day and seeing blood on the ground.

Opposite the High School Building was the large
farm of Jacob Smith — " Uncle Jake" he was called.
A large, square, two-storied house, and a barn nearly

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 57

one hundred feet in length, stood back thirty or forty
rods from the street.

What is now the Russell House was the residence
of Rev. Charles Briggs, who was a settled minister
from 1819 to 1835 ; he then resigned his pastorate and
removed from town. The estate afterwards became
the residence of Dr. John Nelson.

The property now owned by Charles Fletcher was
previously owned by Abner Pierce. A large portion
of his married life was spent elsewhere. After his
death his son-in-law, Capt. L,arkin Turner, became
the occupant until his death.

The farm now occupied by William Viles has been
for a long time the home of the Viles family. John, the
father of William, had a small shoemaker's shop, in
which, I have understood, he worked most of the time
during his father's life, although he afterwards gave
his attention to farming.

A man by the name of Benjamin Wier came to
Lexington about the time of which I am speaking,
and lived in the oldest house on the Cottrell estate.
He was a shoemaker, and employed several men. His
shop stood where is the house in which Mrs. Cottrell
now resides. He carried his goods to Boston every
Saturday, and almost invariably, when returning
from Boston, imagined some one was attempting to
pass him ; he would force his horse with the whip to
its utmost speed, and every few moments look back
and beckon to his imaginary competitor to come on.
His dissipation soon brought ruin to his business and
he left town.

58 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

The house now occupied by Mr. Plumer had
formerly been, for four generations, in the possession
of the Estabrook family ; Benjamin Estabrook, who
died in 1819, being the last one by that name to re-
side there. If my memory is correct, a Mr. Benjamin
Greene and family lived there for quite a number of
years. Then Hammond Hosmer, with his family,
came from Boston, purchased the estate, and made it
his home for many years.

In 1822 a school-house stood on the Common.
There are those now living who attended school there
at that time. This building was removed, I think,
to where Horace B. Davis is now living. I remember
a school-house at this place in 1824; this building
was disposed of in 1830, and a new one built at that
time. My impression is, that the school-house which
first stood upon the Common, and built in 1799, after-
wards removed to near Vine Brook, and sold in 1830,
is now on the premises of the late Charles Robinson
on Monument Street.

A few rods west of Vine Brook was the house and
blacksmith shop of Aaron P. Richardson, who came
to Lexington not far from 1820, and carried on the
blacksmithing business until his death.

The estate adjoining Richardson's, and owned by
Freeborn F. Raymond, was formerly owned by Joshua
Russell, a boot and shoe maker. His shop was near
the house, and his trade was confined principally to
work in town. He subsequently sold his property
and left town.

On the north side of Main Street, where it is crossed

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 59

by Vine Brook, commenced the large landed estate of
Benjamin Muzzey, extending to the Railroad Depot,
and running back to Granny's Hill. Muzzey's ances-
tors had ever been among the foremost to engage in
any measure that tended to promote the interests of
the town, and in him a continuation of that same de-
sire was shown. He was intelligent, ambitious and
energetic ; and this town is indebted for its present
prosperity more to him than to any other person. It
was through his instrumentality that the railroad was
built, his business experience and keen perception
enabling him to anticipate the future needs of the
town. The old homestead of the Muzzeys, which
stood where his son David now lives, was removed to
Waltham Street, and was the first house placed
there.

The Monument House, which stood in front of
Whitcher's grain mill, was, in its time, far more
convenient for a public house than any of the others
in the town. It was the largest and best arranged
for public uses. There were two front entrances, one
opening into a hall- way, with stairs leading to the
second story, and a passage way to the dining-room,
the bar-room being on the right of the entrance, and
a reception-room on the left. The other front entrance
opened into a hall way, with parlors and sitting-rooms
on either side. Originally, the hall for dancing was
small, — perhaps not more than thirty feet square. So
an addition was built purposely for dancing, with a
a dining-room underneath. The halls were then
called " great hall " and " little hall."

60 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

A large shed, a hundred feet or more in length,
stood where the Town House now is ; the barn was on
the west side of the house, and was placed — as all the
barns connected with the public houses were — broad-
side to the street, with a drive- way passing through
it. In the drive- way were the public scales ; the
beam to the scales was made fast and was suspended
over the drive- way ; four long iron chains were at-
attached to the beam, the other ends being attached
to the object to be weighed. For instance, if it was a
wagon the four chains would be fastened to the four
wheels, and in lowering the beam the wagon would
be raised.

This public house was kept by Oliver Locke until
the spring of 1825, when he retired to his farm on
Middle Street, and died the following October. Gen.
Samuel Chandler took charge of the house upon the
retirement of Locke, and remained until 1829, when
Elias Mead became the proprietor.

In 1825, in addition to that which I have named,
all the front land on the south side of Main Street,
from the residence of Dr. Tilton to Mr. Saville's
store, and extending a long distance towards Grape
Vine Corner, belonged to the Muzzey estate.

On the south side of Main Street, at the corner of
Waltham Street (now the residence of Dr. Holmes),
a Capt. Ingraham and wife lived for many years. He
was an ex-sea-captain, but where he came from or
what became of him I know not.

Capt. William Smith came from Waltham to this
town about 1820, located and commenced the harness

^ v

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 6 1

making and chaise trimming business at the corner
of Waltham and Main Streets, where Dr. Tilton now
resides, his shop filling the space between the house
now standing and the street. His business was quite
extensive for those days. He possessed a remarkably
quiet disposition, never becoming disturbed by poli-
tical or other excitements, was industrious, and in his
business relations was honest and faithful.

The next building on the south side of Main Street
was the dwelling house and grocery store of Josiah
Mead. The house was two stories in height ; the
store, one story, connected to the house on the west
side. This is the oldest grocery stand in town ; how
much more than seventy years old I cannot state.
Mead was succeeded by his son-in-law, James Has-
tings ; and J. S. Parker and Dennis Harrington were
Hastings's successors.

The house now standing at the east corner of Clark
Street was for a great many years the home of Dr.
Stillman Spaulding, who was an intelligent man and
a skilled physician. His practice was large, and ex-
tended to the adjoining towns.

On the west corner of Clark Street was located the
house of David Johnson. Johnson was a shoemaker,
or, more properly speaking, a cobbler, a small room
in the house answering for his workshop.

A short distance from Johnson's was the residence
of Nathaniel Harrington and family of nine children.
He was a native of this town, as were also his ances-
tors for several generations. He was a mason. The
old social library was kept for years in this house,

62 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

and Sunday was a busy time there, because of the
taking out of books.

Adjoining Harrington's estate was the famous Dud-
ley Tavern. This house, in its palmy days, evidently
had more patronage from townspeople than any other
public houses. On certain occasions it served as a
rendezvous for free hilarity. One of those occasions
was the evening after town meeting, when eating,
drinking, dancing and making merry was the rule.
Peter Tulip, a negro, with his fiddle, composed the
orchestra, and many a joke was played on him.
Peter's fiddle at one time refused, in a very inexplic-
able manner, to give forth its usual sounds ; but if one
had seen Uncle Jonas standing behind him touching
a candle to his fiddle-bow when it was drawn back,
he would have discovered the reason.

This house was better adapted for that kind of cus-
tom, for there was not room for travellers. There
were only four rooms on the first story : a bar-room,
sitting-room, kitchen and bed-room. I remember
Dudley well ; he was a genial old man, and the per-
sonification of happiness when standing behind his
little three-cornered bar serving customers.

The bullet holes in the house which makes the
home for Mr. Saville and family is indisputable evi-
dence that the battle on the 19th of April, 1775, was
commenced here. In 1825 this house was the resid-
ence of Jonathan Munroe. He was one of six indi-
viduals whose united services as sexton covered a
period of time nearly, if not quite, a century. A few
rods west of this house a long row of horse-sheds,

LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO. 63

that reached as far as Mr. Hudson's house, were
standing in 1820. A hearse house stood near the
upper end of the shed.

I need not speak of the Merriam House, for a better
description than I can give has been made by Mr.
Bliss. The barn to this estate was placed a short
distance west of the house, and in the same manner
as the barns of other public houses.

A row of horse-sheds formerly stood opposite the
common, near where Hancock Street commences.
They were removed about 1820.

Directly in front of the Merriam House, John P.
Merriam, a son of Rufus Merriam, erected a building
about thirty or forty feet, which came into the street
so far as to cause a sharp bend. This building he
used for a grocery and dry goods store in 1846 or 1847.
The County Commissioners, in ordering the widening
of Hancock Street, also ordered the removal of this
building.

This building was removed to nearly opposite the
Hancock Congregational Church. After remaining
there a few years it was torn down, the goods were
taken to a house of his on Concord Hill ; after his
death the goods were sold at auction. Merriam being
obliged to remove the building against his will so
incensed him that he never called for the Commis-
sioners' award of $1,000. It was estimated the loss
on his goods was as much more.

About 1822 the building now known as the Han-
cock Congregational Church was built and a school
opened, and known as the Lexington Academy. In

Si*

64 LEXINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO.

1824 I took my seat there and became one of the
eighty scholars. I have often wished I could forget
my first year in that school, for on the first day the
teacher placed in my hands a Latin Grammar, and
for the entire year no other study was given me but
the three first Latin books. The school at that time
was in the charge of Caleb Stetson, and flourished
for several years, but subsequently began to wane,
until it ceased to be remunerative.

EUAS PHINNEY.

Read by Jambs P. Munroe, Aprti, 8, 1890.

The first New England Phinney, John, came to
Cape Cod about nine years after the landing of the
Pilgrims, and settled at what is now Scituate. His
son, John, had by his first wife, Christian, a son, also
named John, who married Mary Rogers. She was
grand-daughter of Thomas and daughter of Joseph
Rogers, both of whom were passengers on the u May-
flower n , the elder being a signer of the " Compact/'

John and Mary (Rogers) Phinney had thirteen
children. Their tenth child, Benjamin, married
Martha Crocker, by whom he had six children, the
fifth being Zaccheus, born August 4, 1720. Zaccheus
married Susanna Davis. They had three children :
Benjamin, who was born in 1744, and who married
Susanna Morse; Timothy, born in 1746, and married
Temperance Hinckley, grand-daughter of the last of
the Plymouth Colony governors ; and Barnabas, born
in 1748.

In 1772 Benjamin and Susanna (Morse) Phinney
were admitted to the church in Falmouth, Massa-
chusetts ; but two years later they were given letters
of dismissal to the United Church of Annapolis and
Granville, in Nova Scotia, and in the latter town they
remained twelve years, until, in 1786, they were dis-

66 ELIAS PHINNEY.

missed therefrom to the church at Lexington. This
is strong and painful circumstantial evidence. There
is no record of avowed Toryism ; but to be an absentee
in the twelve years of conflict and re-construction,
and to return, not to one's native region — the home
of one's ancestors — but to a village at that time widely
remote, gives ground for grave suspicion. But, if a
loyalist, Mr. Phinney was cordially received in Lex-
ington, and lived there to a ripe and vigorous old age,
tilling his farm and plying his trade as a carpenter
for many years. The stairway of the old Fiske
house on East Street is a specimen of his work.

To Benjamin and Susanna Phinney were born nine
children, four previous to their self-imposed exile,
three in Nova Scotia, and two in Lexington. Of
these children, the seventh and the last of alien birth
was Elias, who was born in 1780. He was, therefore,
six years old when his father removed to Lexington
and purchased of a Mr. Bent, in the south part of the
town, the farm which in later years was to be the
field for the enterprise and skill of the younger man.

Very little is known of Elias Phinney's boyhood in
Lexington ; but it differed little, doubtless, from that
of other farmers' sons of the time. He early deter-
mined to go to college, and, in view of the limited
means of his father, must have paid his own expenses
there. Entering Harvard in his sixteenth year, he
was graduated in the class of 1801.

In Phinney's class were, among others less distin-
guished, Timothy Fuller, member of Congress and
father of Margaret Fuller ; John Gorham, for many

ELI AS PHINNEY. 67

years professor of chemistry ; Benjamin Peirce, first of
the three who have added to Harvard's fame ; George
0. Stewart, eminent in the Canadian Church ; and
Robert Hallowell Gardiner, English by birth, but
God-father to at least two cities in Maine. In the
classes immediately above and below his were such
men as Washington Allston, Joshua Bates, Timothy
Boutelle, Lemuel Shaw, William Allen (afterwards
President of Bowdoin), Samuel Hoar, Levi Lincoln,
and Leverett Saltonstall. How high a percentage of
really great men, in a college so small, and how con-
tact with them must have quickened the mental being
of a young man so receptive as Elias Phinney !

Next to that of the ministry, the law was then the
most honorable of professions, and, in its opportuni-
ties for a career, the most tempting to a man of
ambition. Mr. Phinney chose it, and, in the absence
of any school of law, studied in Maine with one of the
many eminent lawyers for which that State is distin-
guished. After completing his studies he began the
practice of his profession in Thomaston, remaining in
that town altogether about ten years. In 1809 he
married Catherine, daughter of Josiah Bartlett of
Charlestown.

Josiah Bartlett, born in 1759, went to Harvard
College, but his studies being interrupted by the tur-
moil of the opening revolution, studied surgery with
Dr. Isaac Foster, and, as surgeon's mate, tended the
wounded of Bunker Hill. Dr. Bartlett attained con-
siderable distinction, not only in his profession, but
also in the fields of history and archaeology, and, as a

68 ELI AS PHINNEY.

Mason, he repeatedly filled the office of Grand Warden
of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. In this capa-
city, and as a foremost citizen, he delivered many ad-
dresses, among them being a funeral oration upon
George Washington, on the day set apart therefor by
Congress, and an address of welcome to President
Monroe on the occasion of his visit to Charlestown.
His most important paper was a sketch of the History
of Charlestown, published as one of the Historical
Society's Collections, and also as a separate volume.
He married Elizabeth Call, of Charlestown, and by her
had sixteen children. His daughter, Catherine, as be-
fore stated, became the wife of Mr. Phinney. Two or
three years after this marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Phinney
removed from Thomaston to Charlestown, and he con-
tinued there the practice of law, holding many estates
in trust, and taking a prominent part in the affairs of.
the town, until, in 1823, his father being then over
seventy years of age and unable to carry on the work
of the farm alone, persuaded Elias, who had a strong
fondness for agricultural pursuits, to come to Lexing-
ton. Mr. Phinney the younger must always have felt
a warm attachment to our town, and no sooner did he
make his permanent home here than he identified
himself most zealously with the interests of Lexing-
ton. We find his name associated with many im-
provements in the community, and in 1825 he came
vigorously to the defense of the town's historic
fame.

This is not a place to enter into the details of a
controversy, the very existence of which is being

ELIAS PHINNEY. 69

slowly forgotten ; but it is necessary to recall that in
the early part of this century, when the Revolution
was recent history, when many actors in that stirring
drama were still living, ' 4 certain indiscreet men of
Concord" — notably the learned and belligerent Dr.
Ripley — maintained that in their town the first re-
sistance was made to British tyranny ; and Bradford's
u History of Massachusetts, " published in 1822, com-
placently stated that " Major Pitcairn riding forward
and shouting, ' Disperse, you damned rebels,' they
did immediately retire."*

These insults to the courage and patriotism of the
little band of seventy could not be brooked by the
pride of Lexington, still cherishing within her borders
nearly twenty survivors of the battle. Assembled
in town meeting, our citizens voted to refute this
charge, to prove that not only had Lexington the
will to make a show of resistance, she had the courage
to emphasize that show by force of arms. To the
Hon. Nathan Chandler, Rev. Charles Briggs, Elias
Phinney, Abijah Harrington, Amos Muzzy, Charles
Reed, John Muzzy, Ben]. O. Wellington, and Fran-
cis Bowman, Jr., was given the sacred task of gather-
ing from the lips of survivors the proofs of Lexington's
bravery ; and by this committee was Elias Phinney
appointed historian. The result of his labors was a
pamphlet of forty pages, printed in 1825, and reprinted,

*It is but just to note that in later editions of Bradford's History the
statements regarding Lexington are radically revised, and, probably in
view of the stand taken by the citizens of Lexington, the valor of their
fathers is somewhat reluctantly vindicated.

70 ELI AS PHINNEY.

through the exertions of Charles A. Wellington, Esq.,
in 1875.

You are, of course, familiar with this book, with its
simple, straightforward, clear narrative of the events
leading up to the Nineteenth of April, and of the
tremendous doings of that day, and you have all read
the depositions of the ten survivors upon which that
narrative is based. You have studied the homely
affidavits, conflicting, perhaps, in some minor details,
but unanimous in the main facts of that wonderful
resistance of seventy farmers to eight hundred regular
troops, and all proving that the Minute-Men returned
the fire of the British, that they all stood true to Cap-
tain Parker's command, and, while manifestly unable
to hold their ground against such odds, did not attack
the regulars until they themselves were molested.
In these affidavits, and in the narrative which the
Committee, through Mr. Phinney, prepared from
them, the fame of Lexington stands out clear and
indisputable. By the patriotic action of the Town,
the truth will go down to posterity unassailable by
prejudice.

Mr. Phinney was not chiefly concerned, however,
with town affairs . His farm alone seems enough to have
kept him constantly employed. And in that direction,
indeed, lay his chief pleasure. He was among the first
in Massachusetts to deal with agriculture scientific- '
ally, to ask the reasons of the old ways, to devise new
ways, to discard what could not prove its usefulness,
to adopt everything of value with which his wide
reading and extended correspondence made him ac-

ELI AS PHINNEY. 71

quainted. He combated again and again the assertion
that a farmer needs no book-learning and can trust
solely to experience ; he urged repeatedly the fact
that it is as possible to advance in chemistry, in
natural philosophy, in astronomy, without research,
without contact of mind with mind, without compar-
ison and consultation of the experiences of others, as
to expect thrifty husbandry without study, reading
and general discussion. In this belief he contributed
much to the few agricultural periodicals of his day,
sometimes over his own name, often anonymously,
and made frequent addresses to farmers' associations.

The range and activity of his labors in the cause of
agriculture were unbounded. He was among the first
to introduce the tomato and make its culture general,
and by him were introduced and improved many
varieties of peaches, apples and other fruits.* Nor
was he less interested in methods of ploughing,
sowing and reaping, in machinery and in labor-saving
devices, and his efforts in the direction of perfecting
the various breeds of cattle were of wide repute.

How Mr. Phinney improved the natural advantages
of his farm, how beautiful he made its landscape
with the long slope of turf to the west, with its
avenue and bordering line of rock- maples, — brought
by him from New Hampshire, and planted with his
own hands, — with its orchards heavy with fruit, with

*There is a story of a Lexington man meeting a stranger in the far
West. On learning his birthplace, the stranger said, " I never went to
Lexington but once, and then as a mere boy to visit the farm of a Mr.
Phinney, and so long as I live I shall never forget the flavor of his
peaches."

72 ELI AS PHINNEY.

its rich meadow-land reclaimed from the swamps, are
well known. And of what scenes of hospitality was
this landscape the setting ! 4 4 No man in Massachu-
setts," says some one in a biographical sketch of him,
44 had so large a circle of friends "; and this statement,
in various phrasing, forms a part of every obituary
notice of him. No man had so many friends ! The
best eulogy that could be pronounced, when one thinks
who those friends were ! Chief-Justice Shaw, Josiah
Quincy, Dr. John C. Warren, Daniel Webster, Rufus
Choate, the Lawrences, were but a few of the host of
those who sought and always found a welcome at his
house. His townspeople, his old friends at Thom-
aston and Charles town, the judges and lawyers of
Middlesex, the promoters of agriculture, all were
frequent and warmly- greeted guests. It was not
alone his generous and simple hospitality, his charm
of manner, that attracted these friends to him ; it was
as well his breadth, his nobility of character, his
ceaseless, unselfish activity. He was learned and
acquisitive not simply in agriculture and law. He
was a wide and critical reader of the best literature,
was well-informed, though not active, in politics, was
keenly alive to the problems of education, and in the
classics was remarkably well-versed.

Let us look at him as he sits at the head of his
table, bright with the pleasure of hospitality, respon-
sive to the wit and wisdom of his guests. Tall and
well-proportioned, in full vigor of health, made more
robust by his active life and out-of-door interests,
with blue eyes deep-set behind rather high cheek-

ELI AS PHINNEY. 73

bones, with dark hair early tinged with grey, a large,
vigorous mouth, and a fresh, delicate skin, he was an
unusually handsome man. He had, moreover, what
Dr. Holmes calls the " rare look of the gentleman,
that has no paltriness, is calm-eyed, firm-mouthed."
In his bearing lay his chief distinction. Always
courteous, always attentive, always kind, he never-
theless carried himself with rare dignity. It was this,
perhaps, that first gave him the name of " Squire,"
a title accorded him in entire seriousness, and by
which he was unfailingly addressed. He fulfils one's
ideal of the true English squire as modified by Amer-
ican environment. Hospitable, sturdy, the soul of
honor, a keen lover of nature, well-educated and well-
read, his was a nature of thorough balance and equip-
ment. Moreover, he was not content to secure his
own pleasure and comfort in the cultivation of his
fields, but always labored for a wider public than that
of his immediate vicinity. It was a happy chance
that gave this somewhat unusual title of squire to one
who, while retaining all that is best in its English
prototype, was none the less truly and thoroughly
American.

His enthusiastic interest in agriculture did not wean
him, however, from his chosen profession. After re-
moving to Lexington, he continued to go daily to his
office in Charlestown, there to carry on an ever-
increasing practice of the law, until in 1 831, in pur-
suance of an Act of the General Court establishing
the salaries of clerks of the Judicial Courts, he was
appointed Clerk for the County of Middlesex. He

74 ELI AS PHINNEY.

entered upon his duties June 19th, 1831, and from
that time until his death faithfully attended the Ses-
sions during the sittings of the Court, and went daily
to the Court House at East Cambridge in vacations.
Only on the Thursdays of these vacations was he free
to stay at home, and it is extraordinary that with
such limited opportunity for supervision, with regular
duties which often took him from home before day-
light and kept him until dark, he could have accom-
plished so much in agriculture. Fortunately, he had
skilful and intelligent foremen, and there exists
to-day, — among the few things preserved from the
disastrous fire which destroyed his house, — one of the
farm-books wherein he required these foremen to
make full memoranda of the day's doings. It is
clumsily written and full of dry detail ; but here and
there is a day filled in with Mr. Phinney's own hand,
sometimes with such irrelevant items as this : " King
George the IV. of England dead ; Duke of Clarence
crowned."

It was in these years after his appointment to the
Courts that his greatest efforts upon his farm were
put forth. It was now that the New England Society
for the Promotion of Agriculture was formed, and
that he was appointed its secretary. Also, as agent
of this Society, he had charge of the Ayrshire cattle
imported to be used for the propagation of this breed.
How hard the struggle was to keep up the farm while
fulfilling, scrupulously as he did, his duty to the
Commonwealth, we learn from letters written about
this time. He says in one of them: "I am

ELI AS PHINNEY. 75

obliged to attend Courts, away from home, more than
half the year, and for most of the time I have to ap-
propriate sixteen hours of twenty-four to the labors
of this office. I have always passed my evenings and
mornings at home, except when the Court holds its
sessions at Lowell, the distance from my house being
there so great that I cannot go home oftener than
twice a week. The principal part of the time I have
devoted to farming is while others have been in bed ;"
and in another letter : u My time for farming has been
limited to twilight, except one day in the week,
which is usually on Thursday when the Courts are
not in session. My average time for sleep has, for
fourteen years past, not exceeded five hours."

I have spoken of Mr. Phinney's part in the patriotic
vindication of Lexington from the doubts cast upon
her bravery. Earlier than this, however, in 1824, it
was his privilege to assume a public office, — that of
welcoming Lafayette. The triumphal progress of
this much-discussed officer through our country is
common history. Time had then taken none of the
lustre from his exploits, fifty years was too short a
space in which to judge fairly of his worth, and the
popular voice was loud and unanimous in his praise.
Mr. Phinney fairly echoed it when he greeted the
Marquis in substantially the following words :

" These hardy and virtuous yeomanry of the coun-
try offer you the sincere tribute of their warmest
affections. . . . With the name of Lafayette is asso-
ciated every comfort that sweetens the fruit of their
toil, every charm which crowns the altar of domestic

76 ELI AS PHINNEY.

happiness. . . . Permit me, Sir, in common with
grateful millions, to express our earnest solicitations
that a life which has for so many years been stead-
fastly devoted to the cause of national liberty, which
has so long encountered, without dismay, the frowns
of arbitrary power, may be preserved for many years
to come, a blessing and an honor to mankind; and
when you, Sir, and your brave associates in the Revo-
lution shall have ceased your earthly labors, instead
of the fathers, may their children rise up to bless your
memory and emulate your virtues."

The highest and most enviable duty, however,
which Mr. Phinney was called upon to undertake was
on that day of days, since 1775, for Lexington, when
the bones of her martyred dead were deposited in
their final resting-place, when the living remnants of
her battle appeared for the last time gathered together
before the venerating eyes of their fellow-citizens ; of
this solemn day he was appointed president.

In April, 1834, the town voted to have the remains
of those who were killed by the British Army on the
morning of the 19th of April, 1775, removed and re-
entombed near the monument, and to appoint a com-
mittee of nine persons to carry the vote into effect,
viz.:- Elias Phinney, chairman ; Nathaniel Mulliken,
secretary ; General Samuel Chandler, Major Benjamin
O. Wellington, Benjamin Muzzy, Charles Reed, Wil-
liam Chandler, Ambrose Morrell, and Colonel Philip
Russell. Elaborate preparations for the event were
made by this committee, and on the 20th of April,
1835, (the 19th being Sunday) the ceremonies were

ELI AS PHINNEY. 77

begun by a funeral procession, in the midst of which
the bodies of the seven martyrs, which had lain in
the old cemetery, enclosed in wooden boxes and in
one common grave, were borne to the church, standing
at that time at the east end of the Common. The
day was threatening, with light showers ; nevertheless
the meeting-house was crowded, and the windows,
behind which a staging had been erected, were filled
with listeners. A dirge being sung, the Rev. James
Walker offered prayer, an ode by Pierpont followed,
and then before the hushed assembly rose the orator
of the day, Edward Everett. Around him, grouped
upon the temporary platform, were ten old men, all
but one of the survivors of the battle ; at his feet was
the sarcophagus containing the bodies of the seven
heroes.

Reviewing the immediate causes of the Revolution,
the orator paid ample tribute to the part taken by
Lexington in the hard school of the French and
Indian War, in which so many of her sons were wil-
ling pupils, and to the power and patriotism of the
teachings of Jonas Clark. Passing to 1775, he de-
scribed with vividness the events of the early Spring,
summed up most justly and graphically the charac-
ters of Hancock and Adams, and finally, using the
narrative of Mr. Phinney as a basis, pictured the
Battle with such force, such fire, such marvellous
grasp of detail and effect that, old and hackneyed as the
subject is, familiar as it must be to every one born
and brought up in the atmosphere of this story, it
makes one's blood leap to read it. How extraordinary

78 ELI AS PHINNEY.

must have been its impression, heard from those
magic lips, in the presence of the heroic dead and the
feeble, white-haired living. Fervently addressing the
national flag, Everett uttered these prophetic words :
" Should the time come (which God avert) when that
glorious banner shall be rent in twain, may Massa-
chusetts, who first raised her standard in the cause of
United America, be the last by whom that cause is
deserted ; and as many of her children, who first
raised that standard on this spot, fell gloriously in its
defence, so may the last son of Massachusetts, to
whom it shall be intrusted, not yield it but in mortal
agony ! " How instantly, how more than generously,
Massachusetts and Lexington answered this call to
arms given a quarter-century before the day of the
prophecy's fulfilment !

Rising ever higher and higher in power as the
theme grew in action, the orator looked down at the
bodies, at the men dead for sixty years, and with the
eloquence that true feeling, true patriotism alone can
give, addressed them in these words : —

" And you, brave and patriotic men, whose ashes
are gathered in this humble deposit, no time shall
rob you of the well-deserved meed of praise ! You,
too, perceived, not less clearly than the more illus-
trious patriots whose spirit you caught, that the
decisive hour had come. You felt with them that it
could not, must not be shunned. You had resolved
it should not. Reasoning, remonstrance had been
tried ; from your own town-meetings, from the pulpit,
from beneath the arches of Faneuil Hall, every note

ELI AS PHINNEY.

of argument, of appeal, of adjuration had sounded to
the foot of the throne, and in vain. The wheels of
destiny rolled on ; the great design of Providence must
be fulfilled; the issue must be nobly met or basely
shunned. Strange it seemed, inscrutable it was, that
your remote and quiet village should be the chosen
altar of the first great sacrifice. But so it was ; the
summons came and found you waiting ; and here in
the centre of your dwelling places, within sight of
the homes you were to enter no more, between the
village church where your fathers worshipped, and
the grave-yard where they lay at rest, bravely and
meekly, like Christian heroes, you sealed the cause
with your blood. Parker, Munroe, Hadley, the Har-
ringtons, Muzzy, Brown : — Alas ! ye cannot hear my
words ; no words but that of the Archangel shall pene-
trate your urns ; but to the end of time your remem-
brance shall be preserved ! To the end of time, the
soil whereon you fell is holy ; and shall be trod with
reverence while America has a name among the
nations ! "

The hushed audience dispersed, the procession re-
formed, the sarcophagus was laid in its last resting-
place; three volleys of musketry were fired over it,
and perhaps the supremest effort of one of America's
great orators was over.

A banquet followed in a tent erected near the
Monument House, and here Mr. Phinney presided
with much grace, his introductions to the toasts being
simple, dignified and appropriate. Among others, he
gave the Judges of the Supreme Court U A constella-

80 ELI AS PHINNEY.

tion whose brightest star is in the East," referring to
Judge Story, who responded. He introduced Daniel
Webster as u One whose unshaken integrity and
gigantic powers of mind are surpassed in firmness and
strength by nothing but the everlasting hills of his
native State" ; and he was equally happy in the other
toasts, of which there were many.

The next ten years of Mr. Phinney's life were un-
eventful, occupied only with the cares of his family,
his office and his farm, and filled with the generous
hospitality of which he never wearied. But in a let-
ter written in October, 1842, he says : " I have dis-
covered that I have too much care and labor to allow
my mind to preserve its balance. For some weeks
past I have had the care of Courts in Lowell and
Cambridge, both sitting at the same time, and both
crowded with business, all of which must be attended
to by me, and, besides this, my farming operations
requiring six or eight hands in harvesting a thousand
barrels of apples, which are all to be picked by hand
and marketed, and other products of equal magnitude ;
and amidst all this I was, a fortnight ago, taken sick
and threatened with a brain fever, which I providen-
tially avoided. I am now out again, and intend to
do less in the future.' ' An intention which his active
mind and fondness for experiment and research would
not permit him to carry out.

In the Summer of 1847 there fell upon him a blow
of peculiar sadness. The house in which, with the
exception of a few years, he had lived for six decades
was destroyed by fire, together with the greater por-

ELI AS PHINNEY. 8 1

tion of its contents and the fine shade trees which he
had taken so much pleasure in planting. In his own
words written to dear friends in New Hampshire :
" The fire took place on the afternoon of the 20th of
July, between six and seven o'clock. I was on my
way from Concord when I met a messenger sent to in-
form me of the circumstance. The fire caught in the
kitchen, the girl being out, and was first discovered
by the workmen in the fields at some distance. Two
of my daughters were the only persons in the house.
They were engaged in the front parlor, and did not
know of the fire until they were informed of it by the
workmen, when it had reached the chamber above
them and was actually bursting out at the windows
over their heads. They had but just time to make
their escape. Among eighteen inmates of the family,
some having money and valuable clothing, not an
article was saved except what they had on their per-
sons. My farming utensils, some expensive machines,
all that I had been twenty years in collecting, were
destroyed. Our neighbors rendered every assistance
in their power, and by great exertions and the most
daring and judicious measures were able to save my
barn, for which I am very thankful. Our neighbors
have all been very kind, some sending in food, others
clothing, etc."

Mr. Phinney's income was exceedingly small, and
his generous hospitality, together with his devotion
to the progress of agriculture, had so limited his
pecuniary resources that he could hardly have re-built
his house except for the prompt and princely generosity

82 ELI AS PHINNEY.

of his friends. Within a few days over $3,000 had
been subscribed and sent to him with warmest ex-
pressions of sympathy and regard. Chief among
these liberal friends were the Lawrences, Peter C.
Brooks, David Sears, John C. Gray, Dr. Warren,
John Welles, Henry Codman, Francis C. Lowell,
William P. Mason, Josiah Quincy, and James Vila.
Of this noble gift Mr. Phinney says : u This mani-
festation of kind feelings and respect is dearer to me
than the more substantial aid which they have so
generously offered. I could enjoy poverty and priva-
tion without a groan while I enjoyed the respect and
sympathy of such men."

But he did not long survive. Hardly had the fam-
ily moved into their new home, scarcely had he begun
to try to repair the ravages of the flames on his beloved
shade trees, when, on the 24th of July 1849, after an
illness of seventeen days, Mr. Phinney passed away
in the sixty-ninth year of his age.

The resolutions, memoirs and obituary notices were
many and just. At a meeting of the Middlesex Bar
Association, called to take action upon his death, it
was resolved : i l That in the death of Mr. Phinney
the community has sustained the loss of an honest
man, an efficient public officer, and a high-minded,
public-spirited citizen; and the Courts and the
Bar one of their oldest and most respected officers
and members, whose place it will be difficult to
fill."

The Supreme Court, at its ensuing session, took
honorable notice of the loss to the judiciary ; and in

ELI AS PHINNEY. 83

the Boston journals may be found, among other state-
ments, the following :

" No man was better known in Middlesex County,
or had a larger circle of warm friends.' '

u His unbounded hospitality in the entertainment
of a large circle of friends and strangers attracted
from all parts of the country by his admirable farm
. . . drew largely upon his income. He made much
pecuniary sacrifice, also, for experimental farming, of
which agriculturists throughout the country have
reaped the benefit ; but he was enthusiastic in the
cause and gave very cheerfully to others the fruits of
his expensive experience."

So passed away, at a too early age, one of the few
men whose deaths leave a real blank in the commu-
nity. He was not a great man in the ordinary accept-
ance of the word ; he held no high office, he performed
no world-startling deed. He simply did his duty,
steadfastly, unswervingly, to his family, to the com-
munity, to the State. To this task, so simple and yet
so rarely done, he brought both willingness and
ability. His clear foresight, his wise affection, made
him a lasting influence in his home ; his knowledge,
his power of research, his quickness of perception,
made his work for the general good fruitful and far-
reaching ; and towards the United States he exhibited
a strength of affection, a singleness of devotion that
knew no faintest trace of selfishness. To him his
country was a thing sublime, above the pettiness of
fraud, place-hunting and bad ambition, an impreg-
nable tower against which the meaner passions can

84 ELI AS PHINNEY.

do no lasting hurt, a unit reaching above party to the
highest patriotism.

He was harassed by too many petty cares to be able
to reach his highest development ; his mind was cap-
able of greater achievements than circumstances
allowed him to accomplish ; but never did he slacken
in his attention to little because of his capacity for
larger things. Duty was to him as sacred in small
dieeds as in great. Immense as was the detail of his
work in the Courts, he never failed to superintend it
himself to the least item. Upon his farm and in the
affairs of the town the same conscientious spirit ruled
his efforts and lay at the foundation of his achieve-
ments. In his family the good husband and devoted
father, for his town the loyal and enlightened worker,
to the State the upright and faithful servant, Elias
Phinney was of those true citizens with whom rests
and upon whom must ever depend the safety of the
Republic.

THE MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS OF LEX-
INGTON.

Read by Albert W. Bryant, December 9, 1890.

Previous to the incorporation of this town in 1712,
all who had been connected with the army were re-
corded, if at all-, in Cambridge, where the records are
so imperfect that no definite connection can 'be traced*
After the town became incorporated, there was not
that minuteness in recording that would furnish a
continuous connection of events as they transpired,
but enough is known to prove that it would be a
difficult task for any town in the Commonwealth to
show a greater or more ready willingness to respond
to every requisition for recruits.

From the time the town was incorporated to 1755
there are occasional references in the records to men
in the service in 1725, 1740, 1745 and 1754.

From 1755 to 1763 there were furnished for the
French and Indian wars and for other demands, 148
men.

In the records of 1770, the names of the first offi-
cers of the Lexington Company, as it is called, are
given. The character of this company is not stated,
but is presumed to have been what was termed a
militia company. What became of it is not known,
but it has been thought that the refusal of Governor
Gage to convene the Legislature might have had the

86 MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

effect to cause it to disband. The organization of
companies of " Minute Men " was authorized by the
Provincial Congress in 1774. They were not under
militia law, which required all men between the ages
of eighteen and forty-five to be enrolled.

The company which immortalized its name on the
morning of the 19th of April, 1775, is believed to
have been a volunteer company, formed from truly
patriotic motives. Its roll contained 120 names, and
on the morning of the 19th of April, 68 of this num-
ber were in line on the common. Lexington at that
time had a population of about 700; one-sixth of
this number were members of this company, and one-
tenth were in readiness for action on that morning.
Another company, composed of those who were too
old or too young, or otherwise disqualified by law
for service, and known as the " Alarm L,ist, n was
formed in 1775. This company was for any sudden
emergency, but there is no record that its services
were ever called for. In May, 1775, a detachment
from this company of Minute Men was called to
Cambridge for service, and, again, 61 members were
called to Cambridge on the 17th and 18th of June.
This is the last reference to this historic company.

The Battle of Lexington and that of Bunker Hill
must have awakened a wide-spread interest, judging
by the many requisitions for men which followed.
From 1775 to 1778, 181 men were furnished for fifteen
campaigns, whose length of service was from two to
twelve months, and who were paid ^1,235 or $5,977.40
for their services. This amount at first thought

MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS. 87

seems a large sum to pay, yet it is only $33 per
man. For another campaign, the 16th, for six
weeks' service in Rhode Island, 64 men were furn-
ished. For the 17th campaign for six months, 7 men
served. In addition to these, 107 men enlisted for
three years or during the war. Many of the men
served in several of these campaigns and consequently
were counted more than once.

In compliance with a statute law every town had a
militia company which was required to assemble an-
nually on the first Tuesday in the month of May for
inspection and drill, also one day for muster and once
in the fall of the year for drill. I remember that in
April, 1832, I had a summons served on me which
read as follows: —

u You are hereby notified and warned to appear in
front of the Meeting House in Lexington, on the first
Tuesday in May next at 1 o'clock, P.M., armed and
equipped as the law directs for military duty and in-
spection." What being equipped meant I knew not,
but upon inquiry learned it consisted of a musket,
knapsack, cartridge box, priming wire and brush, and
two spare flints. When to me the eventful first
Tuesday in May came, all that I had for my equip-
ments was a priming wire and brush and two spare
flints. The priming wire was a small piece of wire
about two inches in length, and of the size of a com-
mon knitting needle, the brush was made of hog's
bristles, enough to make a bunch of about three-
eighths of an inch in diameter and joined to the wire.
With these I went to the place designated in front of

88 MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

the meeting house. The first business was roll call,
alphabetically. As each person's name was called
he was placed in line; then each was called upon to
present his equipments for inspection. When my
turn came I presented my priming wire and brush,
and two flints, with the request that they be accepted,
as they were all that I had. Very fortunately for me
a shower of rain prevented the exercise of drill, so
that it remains an open question, if that exercise had
taken place, whether my appearance with my equip-
ments would have been very war-like. The com-
pany was dismissed after a kind invitation had been
given to repair to Dudley's Tavern for a short season
of social enjoyment. Probably no order was ever
obeyed with more alacrity or less precision than this
invitation.

A corner in one of the front rooms in Dudley's
house was partitioned off so as to make a triangular
space in which were kept the articles for public use.
This partition, whether by design or accident, was
admirably arranged, being about four feet and a half
in height, just right to rest a gun against, or the
owner of the gun, when fatigued in those social
times. A short time after that to which I have re-
ferred, the company was notified to meet for the pur-
pose of electing a captain. The meeting was held in
a public house which stood where the Catholic
Church is located. It was presided over by a regi-
mental officer from Concord detailed for that pur-
pose. The first choice made was of a simple, in-
offensive person who, when the ballot was announced,

MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS. 89

ran out of the house, quickly followed by a commit-
tee. When informed of his election he replied,
"Can't accept." The next choice was of a woman
who was an inmate of the almshouse. The meeting
then became so noisy and ungovernable that the offi-
cer, disgusted, left the room, and that was the last of
the Militia Company in Lexington.

Although the records in one or two instances make
mention of militia companies previous to 1780, there is
no specific name of any company except Minute Men
and Militia until 1784, when the town voted u that the
Artillery Company now forming have liberty to erect
an Artillery House on that part of the Common where
the Belfry stood." It is doubtful if it was placed
there, for in 1820 it stood on the land where Mrs.
Henry Mulliken now resides. At that time it was
old in appearance. It was about forty feet in length
by twenty in width, one story in height, neither clap-
boarded nor painted. There was one door in front of
sufficient width to admit the gun carriages, but there
were no windows except several shuttered openings.
The building was sold to Gen. Samuel Chandler, not
far from 1850, and removed to Bedford Street to
where John Ryan resides. I am informed by the
Adjutant-General of this State that there are no re-
cords of granting charters for military companies
previous to or during the Revolutionary War. As
there were many from this town who had served as
artillery-men in the French and Indian and Revolu-
tionary Wars, their experience gave preference to the
formation of'an artillery company.

9<D MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

This company for nearly sixty years occupied a
conspicuous position, and was distinguished for its
neat and soldierly appearance, and when on parade,
always received the unqualified approval of the pub-
lic. Its uniform was a dark blue coat and pants
trimmed with red cord, the hat was what was called a
" Bonaparte hat," with black plume tipped with red.
Their annual target practice afforded much pleasure
not only to the boys, but to others in watching the
cannon balls. The company was more remarkable
for missing than for hitting the target, although the
target was ten feet square. Three places were used
for target practice: one near the railroad crossing firing
towards Granny's Hill, one on what is now Forest
Street, firing towards the land of Dr. Lawrence, and
one where the Catholic Church stands, firing towards
the hill near the house of Mr. Robinson. The military
balls occasionally given by this company were so pop-
ular that a full attendance was always assured.

Soon after 1840 apathy began to be manifested and
increased so rapidly that it was found impossible to
recruit a sufficient number to fill the depleted ranks.
The last meeting of the company was held in the
spring of 1847 with only five members present, who
voted to tender their services to the Government in
the Mexican War. Failing^to make the annual re-
port as the law required, the field pieces and other
property belonging to the State were taken in June,
1847. This date closes the existence of all military
organizations in this town, but Lexington did not
stand alone, for the reaction was so wide-spread that

MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS. 91

the companies in Waltham, Watertown, West Cam-
bridge, Medford, Woburn, Stoneham, Billerica and
Concord surrendered their charters, with the excep-
tion of the Concord Artillery which has continued to
the present time. And military companies have been
revived, if I mistake not, only in Waltham, Medford
and Woburn.

In 1822 a petition, signed by some of the promi-
nent citizens in town, requesting authority to form a
military company was presented to the proper State
officials. Permission being granted, a company of
45 members was organized, and took the name of
44 Rifle Rangers.' '

Gen. Samuel Chandler was elected commander.
His experience as an army officer while in the United
States service in the war of 181 2, gave him a knowl-
edge of military tactics, which soon placed the com-
pany among the first in military discipline.

After serving as captain three years, Oliver Lock
became his successor. Lock died in 1825, and Solo-
mon Harrington was elected captain. Harrington,
soon after his election, removed to Boston, and re-
signed his office. William Chandler then became
commander, and after two or three years was suc-
ceeded by his brother, Nathan Chandler. After serv-
ing three years the latter resigned. William Glea-
son became his successor, and remained in command
until the company disbanded in 1835. The first pub-
lic appearance of this company was in September,
1822, on the occasion of the death of one of its mem-
bers who was buried, as it was termed, " under

92 MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

alms," the artillery company acting as escort. This
event, unusual in this town, drew togther a large
proportion of the town's people. I, then a boy eight
years of age, stood beside the street, where the Catholic
Church now stands, and watched with a boy's inter-
est the ceremonies of the two companies.

The first eight years after its organization it ranked
among the foremost in the brigade to which it be-
longed. In 1830, dissensions among its members
were caused by the election of officers and some of the
members left the company. In the effort made to fill
the depleting ranks, admissions were made that so
detracted from the previous character and stand-
ing of the company, that after a wavering exist-
ence for three or four years its charter was sur-
rendered. In August, 1824, on the occasion of
the visit of General Lafayette to Boston, this com-
pany under the command of General Chandler, and
the artillery company with Daniel Harrington (I be-
lieve) for captain, were among the many on Boston
Common, and the honor was accorded them of being
two of the handsomest companies on parade. In
October, 1825, both companies attended the funeral of
Oliver Lock who was captain of the Rifle Rangers,
the artillery acting as escort. In October, 1826,
both companies attended the funeral of Daniel Har-
rington who was captain of the artillery and a
brother-in-law of Captain Lock, the Rifle company,
on this occasion, acting as escort, a coincidence not
often witnessed.

I recall standing, on the 19th of April, 1822, on

MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS. 93

the steps of the south side entrance to the meeting,
house, which had three entrances, and seeing a com-
pany of about 60 men in line on the Common near
where the stone boulder is placed, under the com-
mand of Abijah Harrington. They were represent-
ing the Minute Men who stood upon that spot on the
morning of the 19th of April, 1775. I also saw
Maj. Benj. O. Wellington on horse-back, riding
up Main Street in front of several militia companies
who were intended to represent the British troops.
When they came to the Common, Major Wellington
said, " Lay down your arms and disperse, you
rebels," at the same time firing his pistol, and imme-
diately giving the order to the foremost company to
fire, which was quickly answered by the Minute Men.
This scene was incomprehensible to my youthful
mind, but it awakened an interest that led me to
learn as soon as possible what it was intended to con-
vey. Other movements followed descriptive of scenes
that took place on that day, such as marching toward
Concord as far as the Lincoln line, a hasty retreat
back, and the firing upon the main body, from be-
hind trees, stone walls, etc. This part of the pro-
gram lasted until noon, when refreshments were fur-
nished at Munroe's Tavern In the afternoon com-
memorative services were held in the meeting-house,
Rev. Mr. Stearns of Bedford delivering an oration.

About the year 1830, on the 19th of October — that
being the date of the surrender of the army under
General Cornwallis in 1781 — the event was re-
enacted in Bedford, a company being formed here

94 MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

for the purpose of taking part. We marched to Bed-
ford in the morning and back again in the evening,
after taking part in the sham fight and other move-
ments during the day. An experience that would
hardly be attempted at the present time. It was a
common occurrence years ago to celebrate events like
this and others connected with the Revolutionary
War.

On the 20th day of April, 1835, when the remains
of those who fell in the battle in April, 1775, were
disinterred and placed under the monument, I stood
in the front aisle in the meeting-house, a few feet
from a platform placed before the pulpit, on which
were the survivors of the battle of Lexington, and
other prominent public men. Although I stood
there for more than two hours, it seemed but a few
minutes, so completely was I entranced by the elo-
quent words that fell from the lips of Edward
Everett. From that time to this I have never heard
anything that would bear comparison. The military
part of the exercises for that day was performed by
the Artillery Company and an Infantry Company
composed of volunteers for the occasion, the Rifle
company having disbanded.

Now after all the zeal, activity and interest that
have been manifested in military affairs from the set-
tlement of the town to 1847 (135 years) the natural
inquiry is, " What are the causes that wrought so
complete a change? ' ' One prominent cause of the
lack of interest, which prevailed to so great an extent
that many companies in the Commonwealth were

MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS. 95

forced to surrender their charters, was the influence
of the peace societies (so called) that deprecated war
and urged peaceful measures for adjusting difficul-
ties. Another cause which had much weight arose
from the annual reunion of the Military, called mus-
ter, held in such towns as the officers might desig-
nate. The purpose of these musters was to promote
a proficiency in military tactics, but it was soon re-
alized that the evils on those occasions more than
balanced the benefits.

These reunions were so attractive and collected
such large crowds that street venders and gamblers
found them a fruitful field in which to ply their art-
ful devices to entrap the unsuspecting. This evil
increased to such an extent that the town authorities
became unable to cope with it without assistance
from the military. I can remember witnessing two
musters in this town: the first one was held about
1824 or I 825, on the plain opposite the residence
of Timothy Fiske on East Street. With other
boys I followed the Militia Company from the Com-
mon to the field, and heard the remark made that it
was the largest company on parade, having 70 men
in the ranks. Another muster, and the last one ever
held in this town, took place a few years later and
was located on what is now Forest Street and the
land adjoining. At that time there were no build-
ings on Waltham Street or on Main Street between
the residence of Dr. Til ton and Mr. Spaulding's store.

On that day Waltham Street as far as Vine Brook
was lined on both sides with booths, where fancy

96 MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

goods, oysters, liquors, etc., were offered for sale.
On the ground which is now on the south side of
Forest Street was a large number of booths in which
were dancing, drinking and gambling. When the
troops were dismissed at noon for dinner, a portion
of two companies (probably by request) made a dash
for the gamblers, and a fight began at once. I
stood in front of the Monument House and had a fair
view down Waltham Street, which was densely packed
with people from Main Street to Vine Brook; the
gamblers striving to force a passage-way through the
crowd, and the soldiers fighting to prevent them,
made an indescribable scene. The next year the
muster was held in Watertown, and in the fight
which took place there between the soldiers and the
gamblers, several from this town were more or less
injured. That was the end of the musters for many
years.

In 1852 an event took place which, although not a
military one, yet a cavalcade company was formed
for the occasion. When Louis Kossuth, former gov-
ernor of Hungary, visited the United States, he was
invited by the governor, by order of the Legislature,
to become the guest of the State. A committee from
this town, consisting of Charles Hudson, Col. Isaac
H. Wright and myself, was appointed to extend an
invitation to him to visit Lexington. In an inter-
view with him at the Revere House, in reply to the
committee he said : " Of all the places in this world
there is none that I am more desirous of seeing than
Lexington and Concord." In making arrangements

MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS. 97

for his visit, he spoke of the towns through which he
would pass and also of the many scenes on that
route on the 19th of April, 1775. This, and many
other circumstances showed that he was conversant
with the early history of Massachusetts.

When he came in May he was met at West Cam-
bridge (now Arlington) line by a cavalcade, and es-
corted to the Common, where he was received by the
committee, and, in an address by Charles Hudson,
was welcomed and presented to the people, who had
assembled almost in entire force. After the recep-
tion and a visit to several places of interest, he was
escorted toward Concord as far as the Lexington line.
This event caused considerable comment, inasmuch
as it was thought by some that he was but a political
exile, and had never given any distinguished service
in this country, therefore this ovation was not only
unmerited, but was setting an unwise precedent.

The years from 1861 to 1865 were fraught with so
much importance that time can never efface the re-
membrance of them. This town came nobly forward
and cheerfully responded to every requisition for men.
The whole number called for from 1861 to 1865 was
235. The number furnished was 244. The amount
of money appropriated by the town was $25,692.
The average cost per man was $105,294. The popu-
lation of Lexington in 1865 was 2,223, so that gi per
cent of the population was represented in the ser-
vice.

During the War of the Rebellion a company was
formed; but before enlisting in the service dissen-

98 MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

sion arose, which served to mar the harmony and
engender discord to such an extent that it was
deemed advisable to disband. The members after-
wards united with other companies.

As is well remembered, a company was formed and
uniformed in 1875, for the purpose of taking part in
the Centennial celebration held here at that time.
The wish was universally expressed that it might
become a permanent organization, for the purpose of
keeping in remembrance and assisting in commemo-
rating the annual return of the 19th of April. Its
sudden demise was therefore much deplored.

KITE END.

Read by A. Bradford Smith, Aprii, 14, 1891.

In writing the history of the South District I shall
include only what was called " Kite End." Whence
it received this name I am unable to ascertain. For-
merly it was common to give such names to different
parts of towns.

Pleasant Street, Arlington, was called " Flob
End;" North Street, Waltham, "Trapelo; " Win.
ter Street, Waltham, "Sodom;" a part of Beacon
Street, Waltham, "Skunk's Misery;" and a part of
Watertown, "Tin Horn." I shall begin on Spring
Street at the farm formerly owned by David Bent,
who married Ruth Parker, daughter of Capt. John
Parker, Nov. 14, 1787. Mr. Bent exchanged his
farm with Benj. Phinney, for a farm in Nova Scotia.

Mr. Phinney came to Lexington in 1787. He had
a family of nine children. I well remember him
when he was above ninety years of age walking from
his house to meeting in the old meeting-house, a dis-
tance of two miles. He was tall, erect, with long,
white hair. He died in 1843, a ged 99 years. His son,
Elias, carried on the farm a number of years before
the death of his father. He was distinguished as a
farmer, and for many years was a trustee of the State
Agricultural Society. His farm was brought to a

IOO KITE END.

high state of cultivation. The farm, the fruit trees,
and the stock attracted visitors from a great distance.

The first cattle imported by the Massachusetts Ag-
ricultural Society were kept on this farm for a num-
ber of years. He was for many years clerk of the
courts for the County of Middlesex and held the
office at the time of his death. The old house stood
at the foot of the hill on the west side of Spring
Street near where the present barn now stands, and
was burned in July, 1847. Mr. Phinney built a large
and handsome house near the old turnpike in 1848.
He occupied this house about one year, dying July
24, 1849. This house was burned Nov. 20, 1886.
The farm is now owned by Webster Smith.

The next place south of Mr. Phinney's is the old
Eli Simonds' farm, situated on the Concord and
Cambridge turnpike. On the settlement of Capt.
John Parker's estate in 1775, two- thirds of his farm
was purchased by Joshua Simonds, and occupied by
Joshua Simonds, Jr., until 1797; and afterwards by
William Simonds and his son Eli. The Simonds
family occupied a part of the Parker house until
1810. William Simonds then built a house on the
turnpike, where a tavern was kept until 1828. The
sign which hung on a lofty post in front of the house
is now deposited in the Cary Library. This house
had a good dance hall, and was noted for its dancing
schools, kept by Eli Robbins, one of the most popu-
lar dancing teachers of his time.

Mr. Simonds married in 1799, Susan Pierce, of
Waltham, sister of Cyrus Pierce, commonly known

KITE END. IOI

as Father Pierce, the first teacher of the Normal
School in Lexington. Mr. Simonds had a large fam-
ily of children. He was quite lame for a number of
years, caused by a kick from a horse. After Mr.
Simonds gave up farming, his son Eli continued on
the place until 1870. He has held the office of select-
man, assessor, and surveyor of Lexington.

After that time Brighton Market was held on Mon-
day, and most of the cattle and sheep came from
Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. From Satur-
day morning until Sunday night large droves might be
seen on their way to market over the Concord Turn-
pike. I have seen droves of cattle and sheep to-
gether containing one thousand head, and extending
half a mile.

Beyond the Simonds' place was the Parker place,
owned by Capt. John Parker. He was an assessor
for a number of years, but was most distinguished
for the part he took at the opening of the Revolu-
tion. He commanded the company of Minute Men,
on the 19th of April, 1775, and showed great coolness
and bravery on that trying occasion. He died Sept.

*7> 1775-

His son John continued on the farm. He married

Feb. 7, 1784, Hannah Stearns, daughter of Benj.

Stearns. He had a large family of children of which

Theodore was the youngest. Mr Parker was a pump

maker and wheelwright. In 1797 he purchased the

old belfry that stood on the Common on the 19th of

April, 1775, and used it for a shop. He also made a

large number of cider mills, which in those days

102 KITE END.

were in great demand. I can remember when there
were fourteen cider mills in the south part of the
town. I have heard my father say that there were
farms in this town that made two hundred barrels of
of cider annually.

The Parker mansion stood where the road now is.
It was two stories in front, sloping to one story in the
rear ; it faced due south, which was the general cus-
tom in those days. The chimney was built so that
when the shadow of it fell on the roof straight it was
said to be 12 o'clock. There were two wooden brack-
ets over the kitchen door for the gun to hang on.
This house was taken down in 1843, when the present
one was built. Previous to that time there was no
road by this house, but a lane led from Concord av-
enue down to it.

Some incidents of the 19th of April were related to
Mr. Eli Simonds by Mr. John Parker. At that time
he was a lad of fourteen years of age. His father
was awakened in the night, on the alarm being given
that the " Red Coats" were coming. His mother,
fearing the British would come over there, took all
the valuables and hid them in a hollow trunk of a
tree standing some distance from the house. About
sunrise they heard the rattle of musketry on the Com-
mon and his mother sent him to the top of the hill
in the rear of the Phinney place to watch the British,
and if they came that way to give the alarm. Mr.
Parker died Nov. 3rd, 1835. His son Isaac continued
on the farm. He married, in 1829, Martha M. Miller
of Hillsborough, N. H., and had a family of eight

KITE END. IO3

children. He was assessor four years and lie took
great interest in promoting education in our public
schools. He died June 20th, 187a ; his widow is now
living at ninety years of age. u On Nov. 17th, 1865,
John R. Manly, Clerk of the Twenty-Eighth Congre-
tional Society of Boston, the faithful friend of Theo-
dore Parker during his life and one of the executors
of his will, after his death placed a memorial stone
on the site of the old house, to indicate the birthplace
of Theodore Parker, and as a testimonial of the ven-
eration in which he held his memory. M The stone
is of Concord granite, with the simple inscription,
" Birthplace of Theodore Parker, 1810." The farm
is now owned by Charles M. and Theodore J. Parker,
great grandsons of Capt. John Parker.

Continuing easterly on Concord avenue we come to
the Cutler estate. This place was formerly owned by
a man named White, who sold it to Mr. Nathaniel
Cutler, about 1799. The old house stood south of the
present barn. The remains of the cellar may be seen
at the present time. The present house was built by
Joseph Underwood and sold to Charles Smith. Mr.
Smith lost his life by accident. He was going to the
meadow to cut peat and had the knife used to cut it
with on his shoulder. It slipped off and struck his
heel, cutting the heel-cord, from which he died of
lock-jaw. The house was then sold to Mr. Cutler,
who occupied it until his death in 1849. His son
Thomas carried on the farm some years before the
death of his father. He married, in 1828, Sarah Smith
of Waltham and had a family of seven children. He

104 KITE END.

died in 1790 aged 89 years. The farm remains in the
family at the present time.

The next farm easterly on Concord avenue is the
Underwood place. It was owned by Joseph Under-
wood, a contractor and builder. He lived in Boston
for a number of years and was one of the contractors
for laying the logs to bring the water from Jamaica
Pond to'Boston ; also for building the meeting-house
in Lexington in 1794. His farm was bounded on the
east by land of William Smith. One line began at a
corner, u and running to a stump and stone where Bill
Smith licked Joseph Underwood." He had a large
family of children. In 1806 when politics ran very
high, Thomas O. Selfridge shot Charles Austin, on
State street, Boston. He was hung in effigy on the
old elm on Boston Common. Mr. Underwood's son
Nathan lived in Boston at that time and was the man
who hung it. He tied a small cord around a brick
and threw it over the limb ; then drew a large rope
over, which was fastened around his body, and he was
then drawn up, nailed a hook on the limb and
hung the effigy on it. Nathan Underwood enlisted
in the War of 181 2 and was in the battle of Lundy's
L,ane under General Scott in Colonel Miller's Regi-
ment. A battery of the enemy held a very important
position. General Scott rode up to Colonel Miller
and asked him if he could take that Battery. His re-
ply was, " I will try." Matthew Stearns, another
descendant of u Kite End," was in the same regi-
ment.

Continuing easterly on Concord avenue we come to

KITE END. IO5

the school-house. In 1804 the town voted one thous-
and dollars to build three new school-houses : one to
be located in the Centre, one in Scotland district, and
one in Smith's End. This house stood near where
the present one stands. It was about twenty feet
square, one story high, with a hip roof, and with an
entry about four feet wide. It was in this school-
house that Theodore Parker received his early educa-
tion. His first teacher was Patty Wellington, daugh-
ter of Benjamin. In October, 1820, the town voted
to choose a committee of three to view the school-
house in the South district ; if, in their opinion,
it was found necessary to build a new house, they
should estimate the expense of said house, in-
cluding what the old one would bring, and determine
where the new one should be located. Nathan
Chandler, Jonas Bridge and Charles Reed were chosen
a committee. They reported to build a new house
and that it could be built for one hundred and fifty or
one hundred and seventy-five dollars, and the proceeds
of the old one. This house stood on the south side
of the road, nearly opposite the present one. It was
about thirty feet square and on the north end had an
entry- way about four feet wide. In 1834 this house
was enlarged and the interior remodelled. There
were two entrances, on the south side, one for boys
and one for girls. The teacher's desk was between
the two entrances, on a platform, about nine inches
high. One of the methods of punishment by some of
the teachers was to seat the boys on the floor, close
to the platform, with their feet resting on the plat-

106 KITE END.

form and their arms folded. The teacher's desk was
about four feet long and two and one-half feet wide,
with an open space underneath where they put the
boys and sometimes the girls. Another punishment
was to hold a stick of wood at arm's length, and still
another was to bend forward and place the finger on
the head of a nail in the floor. In winter I have
known the room so cold that we could not get heat
enough to take the frost off the nail heads at the
farther end of the room. A row of seats around the
stove would accommodate twelve or fifteen, and on
cold days the teacher would let one portion of the
scholars go to the stove and get warm and then an-
other. Many of the teachers in the winter terms were
Harvard students, who also kept up their studies in
college. It was seldom that we had the same teacher
more than one term. The salary was about forty
dollars per month ; the winter term was about thir-
teen weeks and the summer term sixteen or seventeen.
The teachers in summer, or u school-marms M as they
were called, received from three to four dollars per
week. Some of the teachers did not have much dis-
cipline ; one in particular, when he dismissed the
school, part of the boys would go out of the door and
part out of the window. The boys had popguns and
when the master \came into the yard the boys would
fire at him from the windows. There were fourteen
families in this district, with one hundred and twenty-
two children, three of these families having thirty-
five. The last two winters I attended this school it
was taught by a woman. She taught all the common

KITE END. I07

branches, from A, B, C, upwards ; also book-keeping,
geometry, astronomy and algebra. Three of the first
class were fitted for the Normal school; her salary
was six dollars per week; she had fifty pupils and
never complained of being overworked. The most
the town appropriated for schools while I attended,
with the exception of one year, was fourteen hundred
dollars. Now the town appropriates nearly as many
thousands. By the report of the committee in 1834
there were four hundred and ten pupils in the town,
yet the appropriation was but one thousand dollars.
In 1 85 1 the town voted to build a one-story school-
house in the South district. Mr. Peter Wellington,
one of the building committee, headed a paper with
twenty-five dollars to raise money enough to build a
two-story building. He raised a sum sufficient in the
district. It has proved to be a great benefit to the
inhabitants and afforded to the school children a play
room.

The next house east of the school-house was owned
by Ebenezer Smith. He married Annie Underwood
in 1807 and had a large family of children. This
house was burned Tuesday, Jan. 31st, 1815. It was
the coldest day for many years and was noticed in the
Farmers' Almanac "as the Cold Tuesday." Mr.
Smith's house was not insured and his friends and
neighbors contributed towards building a new one.
Thus the house was rebuilt with a small loss to him.
Mr. Smith was a shoemaker by trade ; he did quite a
business for those times. His trade was mostly in
Boston, where he had a large number of customers.

I08 KITE END.

Among them were Amos and Abbott Lawrence,
Nathan Appleton and Patrick T. Jackson. He went
to Boston on Saturdays to carry his work and get
more. He continued in the business until about 1848,
and died in i860 in the eightieth year of his age.
The place is now owned by George O. Wellington.

The next place south, on Waltham street, was
owned by Edmund Munroe. He bought the farm for
the purpose of raising sheep, and purchased a num-
ber of Merinos, paying a high price for some ; but the
fences proving insufficient he was obliged to give up
the undertaking. This place was occupied by Stephen
Locke for many years. The house was of the old
style, two stories front, sloping to one story in the
rear and faced due south. It was sold to Eben R.
Smith in 1828. Mr. Smith married Almira Reed,
daughter of Hammon Reed. January, 1829, the old
house was taken down and the present one built by
Mr. Smith. This place is now owned by Stephen
Wright. Continuing southeasterly, about one mile,
on the old Waltham road, we come to the farm for-
merly owned by Benjamin Stearns, or as he was com-
monly called, "Sugar Ben." He was a large land
owner in Lexington and Waltham. My father has
told me that he had sentry boxes on three high hills,
where he went to view his land. He had a family of
eleven children and out of the eleven nine were boys,
who had Bible names such as "Habakkuk," "Ish-
mael," "Jeptha," and "Noah." His daughter
Hannah married John Parker and was the mother of
Theodore Parker. He was in the campaign at White

KITE END. IO9

Plains in 1776 and died in 1801. The farm is now
owned by William Doe.

Coming back to Concord avenue, the first house east
of Waltham street was owned by Joseph Underwood,
who married in 1800, Eusebia Harrington, daughter
of Daniel Harrington, Clerk of Captain Parker's com-
pany of Minute Men. He was Selectman in 1809, a
mason by trade, employing several men. He was
quite a noted singing master, and taught in different
parts of the town and led the singing in the old meet-
ing house for a number of years. He died in Septem-
ber, 1845, a S e d 73 years. The following October the
personal property was sold at auction. In one of the
spacious front rooms was a large lot of goods, consist-
ing of crockery and glass ware, bedding, furniture,
and numerous other articles. There were about forty
people in the room at the time. William Chandler,
the auctioneer, was selling a sausage filler. I can see
him holding it up and saying going, going, and before
he said gone, the floor gave way, and men, women,
crockery and furniture were precipitated into the
cellar. There was quite a commotion for a few mo-
ments until they were all taken out and it was found
that no one was seriously hurt. The place is now oc-
cupied by Whitney Foster.

The next place easterly was owned by Thomas
Smith, who married Sarah Taylor of Charles town.
He built this house in 1805 and died in 1807. His
son William T. continued on the place ; he was a
shoemaker by trade and sometimes employed two or
three men. He married, in 1812, Cynthia Childs of

HO KITE END.

Gardner. In 1862 he celebrated his golden wedding.
A short distance from the house is a large rock, near
which it was said that money was buried. It was
called the money hole, and it was said that there were
ghosts seen about the place. There were several at-
tempts made to find it. Mr. Adams, who lived near,
said he dug for the money and came to an iron pot
that he supposed contained it, but just then his mother
called, u George ! the cows are in the mire " ; he went
and got the cows out, but when he came back the iron
pot had vanished. Formerly about fifty rods south
of Mr. Smith's there were three houses ; one was the
residence of George Adams ; a part of it was moved to
East Lexington more than 75 years ago ; it is now
used as a shoemaker's shop by Mr. Crowe. Another
was built by Noah Stearns, who married Prudence
Winship in 1806. After the death of his wife, want-
ing a housekeeper, he went to a house in the north
part of the town ; a lady came to the door, and he
said, " How d'ye do? Betsey Tidd, I want you for my
housekeeper, and perhaps I will marry you " ; and he
did. The only way to these houses was by a lane,
leading from the old Waltham road. The remains of
two of the cellars may be seen at the present time.

Continuing easterly on Concord avenue is the farm
formerly owned by Nehemiah Wellington, who mar-
ried Nancy Stearns in 1805. * n I ^°8 he bought about
twenty acres of land from the Benjamin Stearns farm
and built this house. He had a family of nine chil-
dren, six of whom were born in this house ; two
daughters are now living in Lexington, Mrs. Samuel

KITE END. Ill

Bridge, and Mrs. E. A. Mulliken. He was a carpen-
ter by trade and continued on this place until 1817.
He sold it to Josiah Smith and purchased the Bridge
farm at the junction of Middle and Spring streets.
He was Assessor in 1840, Selectman in 1841, and
Representative to the General Court in 1836 and 1838.
He died in 1857 aged seventy-seven years. Josiah
Smith married Iyucinda Wyman, May, 181 7, and had
a family of nine children ; he was a shoemaker. His
trade was mostly in Boston, the same as his brother
Ebenezer. He employed at times five or six men.
He was noted as a fifer and played for military com-
panies for seventy-five years. He told me the first
company he played for was the old militia company,
when he was eleven years of age ; the last company was
the Ancient and Honorable Artillery on the 17th of
June, 1875, when he was in his eighty-seventh year ;
his first instructor on the fife was Josiah Bryant. He
was drafted in the war of 181 2 and was stationed on
one of the islands in Boston harbor. A false alarm
was given in the night to try the courage of the men.
One of them from Lexington hid under the bed. The
soldiers made sport of him. The fellow said u he had
rather they would say he was a coward than that he
was dead." Mr. Smith played the fife in nearly every
state, from Maine to Georgia. He and Dan Simpson,
the veteran drummer, played for the Ancient and
Honorable Artillery, on their annual election, for
sixty years. Every five years of service for the com-
pany, a stripe was placed on the sleeve of his coat ;
the coat is now in the Cary Library with twelve

112 KITE END.

stripes on the sleeves, indicating sixty years' service
for the company. They also played for the first mil-
itary company that left Boston on an excursion to
New York, marching to Providence to take the boat.
Mr. Smith, or u Fifer Si," as he was called, was pre-
sented with a silver mounted fife by the New York
City Guards. He played this for more than forty
years and lost it in West Cambridge in i860. It was
the intention of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery
to have this fife and Simpson's drum hung in their
Armory to commemorate the valuable services of
these musicians. A liberal reward was offered but it
was never recovered. Mr. Smith was a fine clarionet
player and led a military band for some time and also
led the singing in the old meeting-house for a number
of years. He was a member of the Hiram Lodge of
Masons of this town. He died June 23d, 1875, aged
eighty-six years. The farm is now occupied by Ar-
thur Jewett.

Northerly, on Blossom street, is the farm formerly
owned by Joshua Underwood ; he sold it to Josiah
Smith, who came from Waltham in 1760. He was
also a shoemaker. This house is one of the most an-
cient in Lexington, situated on the east side of a high
hill and overshadowed by lofty elm trees, one of which
was transplanted in 1760. Mr. Smith took part in
the events of April 19th, 1775, but did not arrive at
the Common until the British had left for Concord.
He marched with Captain Parker's Company towards
Concord, met the British on their retreat and contin-
ued in pursuit nearly to Charlestown neck. He was

KITE END.

113

Selectmen six years and Assessor seven years. His
son Josiah ( father of Fifer Si ), bought the place on
the death of his father. He also took part in the
events of the 19th of April, 1775. He was living at
that time in Waltham, and upon hearing the alarm
started for Lexington Common, but did not arrive
there until the British had left. He said he picked
up a gun on Concord Hill that was left by a British
soldier and hid it behind a wall, thinking he would
get it on his return, but when he went for it it was
gone. He was in the campaign to Ticonderoga, and
served nine months. He married, in 1777, Polly
Barber, daughter of a Captain in the British army.
His occupation was that of a shoemaker, and he car-
ried on quite an extensive business, employing from
four to six men. He was Selectman four years and
Assessor two years. His first shop was used for a
school-house, but whether it was built by the town,
or district, I am unable to say. I can find nothing on
the records to show when it was built. March 12th,
1787, the town granted an order to pay Mr. Francis
Bowman £6 for keeping school in the South Quarter
of the town, so there must have been a school-house
there at that time. When Mr. Smith purchased it I
cannot say. He used it for a number of years for a
shop ; then it was moved to where Mr. Roberts now
lives and stood there some time. In 1806 it was sold
to Thomas Smith and moved over to Concord avenue,
and used by him and his son for a shoemaker's shop.
It was about eleven by fifteen feet and was taken down
about three years ago. In 1798, when my father was

114 KITE END.

a lad of six years, there was no schoolhouse in that
part of the town. The school-house then was located
on Mason's Hill, just below the Munroe Tavern, and
the boys from that district came across the swamp to
school.

Mr. Smith died in 1826. In 1817 his son Elias pur-
chased the farm. He married Harriet, youngest
daughter of Maj. Samuel Hastings, and had a family
of six children. His occupation in his younger days
was that of a shoemaker, which was a prominent and
well paying business. In later years he was engaged
in farming. He was a man of remarkable memory,
and through the whole of his active life, he saw, read
and heard accurately whatever had a bearing on the
social and political life of his own and preceding gen-
erations. When eighty-five years of age his mind was
still clear, and he would relate incidents and anec-
dotes of his boyhood. I am indebted for a portion of
the information in this paper to my revered father.
He died in 1878 aged eighty-six years. Then the
farm was purchased by me and I remained on it until
1884, when I sold it, after it had been in the Smith
family one hundred and twenty- four years.

On the hill back of this house is a large rock called
"Josh Rock," which overlooks the centre of the
town. My grandmother, on April 19th, 1775, went
to the top of this rock, where she could hear the rattle
of the musketry and see the smoke of the guns, and
in the afternoon she saw the buildings burning which
were set on fire by the British on their retreat from
Concord. This place is now owned by the Estabrook
Brothers.

KITE END.

The farm adjoining on the north was formerly-
owned by Josiah Smith, who sold it to Abram Smith
in 1785. He was enrolled in Captain Parker's Com-
pany and was on the Common April 19th, 1775, an< i
afterwards enlisted in the Continental Army for three
years. He married, in 1788, Martha Bowman of
West Cambridge, and had two sons. He died, Janu-
ary, 1826, aged 70 years. His two sons continued on
the farm. Oliver was Assessor in 1825. William B.
married in 1835, Mary, daughter of Isaac Smith, and
had a family of three children. Abram B., their old-
est son, is now the owner and occupant of this place.

The first house on Allen street was owned by
Hezekiah Smith. He had a family of eight children.
His farm was sold to Ebenezer Munroe, who married
in 1 77 1. He was a member of Captain Parker's Com-
pany and was in the Jerseys in 1776 ; he had a family
of four children ; his daughter Esther married David
Tuttle ; he died in 1826 aged eighty- two years. His
son John continued on the farm until his death in
1865 and had a family of eight children ; the place is
now owned by Mr. M. H. Roberts.

Continuing on Allen street we come to the farm
owned by Joseph Smith. He married, in 1765, L,ucy
Stone, who died in 1772 ; and he married in 1777,
Abigail Ingoldsby. He had a family of thirteen chil-
dren and his daughter Abigail Cook married Jonas
Munroe and was the mother of William H. and James
S. Munroe. She was called the belle of Lexington.
Mr. Smith was on the Common the 19th of April,
1775, in Captain Parker's Company, and was after-

Il6 KITE END.

wards Captain of the Militia. He died in 1805 an< l
was buried under arms. He was a remarkable pre-
siding officer at political conventions and other gath-
erings. On one of these occasions when Mr. Smith,
clad in the habiliments of a farmer, stepped forward
and took the chair, many were the glances inter-
changed by some of the delegates ; but when he arose
and spoke the audience immediately saw he was mas-
ter of the situation. His son Joseph Smith continued
on the farm for a number of years and then sold it to
Marshall Wellington, father of Walter Wellington
and Mrs. Albert W. Bryant. He sold the farm in
1838 to Galen Allen. Mr. Allen was Selectman sev-
eral years and married Lavinia, daughter of John
Munroe. He died in 1864. The farm is now owned
by Mr. Richards.

About twenty rods south from Allen street, in the
field, is the place formerly owned by David Tuttle,
who was born in Winchendon, Mass., in 1782. He
came to Lexington in 1804 and settled in this part of
the town. He engaged in work with Nehemiah
Wellington, who was at that time a carpenter. The
following February, 1805, he commenced business for
himself and the next year bought of Ebenezer Mun-
roe a piece of land on which he built a house and soon
after married Mr. Munroe's daughter Esther. Among
his apprentices were several well known men of this
town : Captain Isaac Mulliken, Oliver Hastings, Isaac
Cutler, Joel Viles, Eben R. Smith, Leonard Smith,
William Locke and Nicholas Locke, each of whom
served three years with him, remaining for the time

KITE END. II7

in his family and going winters to the District School,
in which he took a great interest, serving at times as
Prudential committeeman and Clerk of the District.
He had eight children. With most of his neighbors
he was Anti-Mason, and an " Andrew Jackson " man.
So eager was he to be present at the state political
conventions that he would ride forty or fifty miles to
attend them. Never fearing to advance his opinions
either in private or public, his voice was often heard
in the town meetings speaking in his own peculiar
style and was listened to with marked attention.
Owing to ill health he sold his farm in 1844 and re-
moved to the Centre Village, where he died in April,
1845.

The next place southwesterly on Blossom street, just
off the main road from Lexington to Waltham, and
two miles distant from each, is the Smith homestead,
which has been in the possession of the family since
the early settlement of that section of the town of
Lexington. The land on which the house stood slopes
gradually to the north and south, rising on the east
to quite an eminence, surmounted by two peculiar
ledges of rock which rise abruptly from the surface of
the top of the hill from ten to twenty-five feet. These
ledges are one hundred to two hundred feet long and
twenty to thirty feet across, rounding slightly on top.
They run parallel to each other north and south about
five hundred feet apart. On the top of the first, the
westerly one, known as Josh Rock, is a depression in
which water may be found the greater part of the
year. From the top of the second is a magnificent

Il8 KITE END,

view of the surrounding country ; the village of Lex-
ington to the north, to the east Belmont, Arlington
and Cambridge; to the south, Prospect Hill, Wal-
tham, and the blue hills of Milton, and to the west
Wachusett Mountain. The coast survey has recently
erected a flag staff upon this rock.

The mansion house that had sheltered several gen-
erations of Smiths and two of Lockes, was taken down
several years ago by Amos W. Locke, the present
owner, and a grandson of the last William Smith.
When news of the advance of the British arrived April
18, 1775, many women and children took refuge here
•until the struggle of the 19th of April had passed.
The place then belonged to William Smith, a mem-
ber of Captain Parker's Company, who took part in
the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. At his
decease the homestead came into possession of his son
William Smith, Jr., the last of the name. He mar-
ried Jane Pierce of Waltham and had two children.

Oliver Locke, son of Lieutenant Samuel and Mar-
garet Adams Locke of West Cambridge was Lieuten-
ant in the Revolution and was with the troops at
Noddle's Island, December, 1776, and Cambridge,
May, 1777. He was an extensive farmer and resided
at West Cambridge. He died Sept. 13, 1819. He
had a family of fifteen children. Oliver, the youngest,
was born Sept. 14th, 1792. His mother dying when
he was quite young he was indebted to his sister Anna,
who afterwards married Charles Wellington of West
Cambridge, for the motherly care and careful training
that were so potent an influence in unfolding his char-

KITE END. Iig

acter. His early education was such as the public
schools of the time afforded. By dint of hard study,
with the assistance of a friend now and then, he be-
came proficient in Latin and the higher mathematics.
On leaving school he was apprenticed to Nehemiah
Wellington, from whom he learned the carpenter's
trade, at which he worked during nine months of tlje
year. He taught school during the winter and being
an accomplished musician taught singing schools in
the adjoining towns. About 1817 he was employed
in teaching the District School in " Kite End."
Among his pupils was the late Theodore Parker, a
quiet, studious lad, who, besides taking the studies
pursued by the other pupils, commenced the study of
Latin. He there laid the foundation of the education
that made him one of the first scholars of his time,
whose influence on ethics and religion will be felt for
ages to come. Another of his pupils was Lavina,
daughter of William and Jane Pierce Smith, whom
he married in 1818, and went to reside in the Smith
homestead. He was a man of broad and liberal cul-
ture and of sterling integrity. After becoming a cit-
izen of Lexington he took an active interest in the
welfare of the town. He was a member of the Board
of Assessors for four years, an ardent friend and sup-
porter of public education and always advocated the
most liberal policy. He died Oct. 5, 1842, aged fifty
years. His wife Lavina Smith Locke died Oct. 5,
1855, aged fifty-six. They had a family of five boys.
George W., the youngest, was born Feb. 22, 1835 ; he
married Mary White Learned, May 18, 1858, daugh-

120 KITE END.

ter of Dr. Ebenezer Turell of Fall River. He was
educated in the public schools of Lexington and at
the Bridgewater Normal School, graduating in Nov-
ember, 1855. After teaching in North Woburn dur-
ing the winter of 1855-56, he was called to Fall River
where he has been in almost continuous service for
nearly thirty years. He is now ( 1891 ) Principal of
the Foster Hooper School.

I will now return to Walnut street. This farm was
formerly owned by Mr. Stearns. The old house was
burned and a boy about twelve years of age was burned
in it. After the death of Mr. Stearns the farm was
sold to Joel Smith. The house stood some rods from
the road, a lane leading from the old Waltham road
to it. After Mr. Smith purchased the place the pres-
ent road was built, which runs directly by the house.
Mr. Smith occupied the house for a number of years
and then leased it to his son Joshua, who occupied it
until about 1855. The place is now occupied by
George Jameson.

The next place, on the corner of Concord avenue
and Pleasant street, is the " Wellington Homestead "
since the year 1698. The genealogy of the family is
given in the History of Watertown and the essential
portion of it in Hudson's history of Lexington. The
house occupied by the present representative of the
family was built in 1802 by Benjamin, for his sons
Benjamin O. and Peter, who married daughters of
Samuel Hastings of Lincoln. Benjamin or " Uncle
Ben " had eleven children, none of whom are now
residents of Lexington. Uncle Peter was the father

KITE END. 121

of a baker's dozen, so divided as to sex as to give the
boys a majority of one. But equality in numbers was
restored by the death of a boy in infancy, after which
the family consisted for many years of six boys and
six girls. A dozen representatives of the two families
might have been found in the Kite End School at
one time. Benjamin, the grandfather of the present
generation, was by trade a wheelwright and during
the Revolutionary war made wheels for gun carriages
for our army, in a shop which stood on the westerly
side of Pleasant street, near the house at the foot of
the hill, just north of the one now occupied by his
descendants. He was at one time with Washington's
army at Cambridge, later at the capture of Burgoyne's
army, and also in the battle of White Plains. He was
the first prisoner taken in the War of the Revolution,
April 19th, 1775. He was the first man to carry milk
to Boston from L,exington. His conveyance was a
horse cart, set squarely upon the axle, without spring
or cushion, and his route was through Cambridge to
Lechmere Point, and over Charles River by ferry.
His milk cans were made of wood. Uncle Ben con-
tinued in the milk business until his death in 1853.
He was a very influential man in town ; Selectman for
five years and member of the school committee five
years. He took great interest in military affairs and
rose to the rank of Major. Uncle Peter was widely
different from his brother. He was quiet, unassum-
ing and strongly inclined to hide his talents under a
bushel, but when necessity demanded, he showed
people that he possessed a keen intellect, good com-

122 KITE END.

mon sense and great decision of character. In his
business relations a promise or contract was consid-
ered sacred, and his yes and no were yes and no to the
last. He was appointed one of the building commit-
tee for the erection of the town hall in 1845, the pres-
ent High School-house. He advocated strongly a
two-story and larger building, showing an eye for the
future needs of the town reaching beyond the imme-
diate present ; but others failing to agree with him,
the architect finally made a compromise and the re-
sult is the doubtful piece of architecture we behold.
The farm adjoining on the north, now the property
of Charles A. Wellington, was for many years the
residence of David Wellington, who was not only a
farmer but carried on the business of tanning. He
was deacon of the First and afterward of the Follen
Church. There are no representatives of his family
now living in Lexington. He was known in the
neighborhood as Captain David.

SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF SOLOMON BROWN.

BY HIS SON, G. W. BROWN,

[A real Son of the Revolution.]

Read May 12, 1891.

Solomon Brown was a son of Deacon Benjamin
Brown of Lexington, born Feb. 26, 1757. Returning
from Boston, where he had been to market, on the af-
ternoon of the 18th of April, 1775, he overtook and
passed on the road twelve men on horseback, who
were riding very leisurely towards Lexington. As
he passed them the wind blew open some of their
overcoats, he saw they wore the British uniforms,
and with quick perception concluded they were of-
ficers sent out by General Gage on a tour of observa-
tion. Their presence at that time excited his suspi-
cions, and hastening he arrived at Lexington and im-
mediately gave information of their coming. The
patriots were alarmed for the safety of Hancock and
Adams, who were making a visit at the house of Rev.
Jonas Clark, the minister of the town. As darkness
approached, a guard of Minute Men under Sergeant
William Munroe of Captain John Parker's Company,
were placed around the house. In the mean time
the British officers passed through the village, taking
the road towards Concord. In regard to the tardy
movement of the British officers on the road, it was
the opinion of Solomon Brown that spies had been
sent out, the country thoroughly looked over and the

124 SOLOMON BROWN.

place selected where they were to guard the road be-
tween Lexington and Concord, and that they did not
care to reach there until the shades of the evening
had set in. As soon as the officers passed through
the village, Solomon Brown and Messrs. Sanderson
and Loring, members of Captain Parker's Company,
were ordered out to watch their movements. Solo-
mon Brown made objections, having had his horse in
use through the day, when Minister Clark replied to
him that he would be provided for, and soon led out
his own horse saddled and bridled for his use. The
three men then started off on the Concord road in
pursuit of the officers. On reaching the borders of
Lincoln, passing a piece of woods, they were sur-
prised by the British officers, who, with pistols in
hand, ordered them to dismount ; their horses were
taken and hitched in the woods and the three men
were escorted by three of the officers a short distance
from the road to the south side of a thicket of wood,
where they were kept guarded by the three officers.
In a short time another man was added to their num-
ber, who on being questioned by the officers proved
to be a pedler. The officers being satisfied with his
story said to him if he wished to return to Lexington
they would release him, to which he consented and
was released. Between 12 and 1 o'clock Paul Revere
arrived at Lexington, bringing intelligence of the de-
parture from Boston of a large force of British troops
coming in this direction. After having given notice
to Hancock and Adams and thoroughly arousing the
people of Lexington, Revere started for Concord in

SOLOMON BROWN. 125

company with a young man by the name of Prescott,
a son of Dr. Prescott of Concord, and on reaching the
place were intercepted by the British officers. Young
Prescott turned his horse to a stone wall on the side
of the road, which he jumped over and made his es-
cape through the fields. He reached Concord in safety,
stopping at every house on the way and thoroughly
arousing the people. He soon reached home and gave
the alarm to the people of Concord, which was the
means of saving the military stores at Concord by re-
moving them to a more remote section of the country
before the arrival of the British forces. Revere hav-
ing fallen into the hands of the British officers was
closely questioned by them, to which he replied that
their movements were no secret, they were fully
known in everv house from Boston to Concord. Emis-
saries were being frequently sent out from Lexington
to ascertain the whereabouts of the British forces but
got no returns, and it was not fully known until a
farmer living about two miles from here was awakened
by the jingling of the chain to his well bucket. He
got up and looking out saw his yard filled with red-
coats drinking at his well. Hastily dressing he went
out at his back door, took a route to the road in ad-
vance of them, reaching this village between two and
three o'clock. The bell was again rung, which
brought the people together rapidly. Captain Parker
got together about seventy of his men and formed
them on the Common. The ringing of the bell was
heard by the British officers and their prisoners on
the Concord road. Revere then told them that " Hell

126 SOLOMON BROWN.

was to pay ; that the people were collecting together
in large numbers, and they would all be dead men
soon if they did not get out of this very quick." The
officers consulted together and then with the prison-
ers started for the road where the balance of the offi-
cers were ; reaching them, another consultation was
held. They then led out of the woods the prisoner's
horses, cut the reins of the bridles and girths of the
saddles, turned the horses loose in the road and said
to the prisoners they were at liberty. Mounting their
own horses they rode off towards this village. There
being a bright moon and the I<exington boys having
a full knowledge of the location ( it being the hunting
ground of their boyhood days), they started across
the fields, making the distance much shorter, with the
hope they might reach this village in advance of the
officers, which they failed to do.

As the enemy drew near, Captain Parker gave or-
ders to his men not to fire unless fired upon. At their
approach the British officers in command ordered
Captain Parker and his men to lay down their arms
and disperse, " You damned Rebels.' ' As the order
was not obeyed they were ordered to fire, which they
did, aiming above their heads. Captain Parker see-
ing the great odds in numbers thought it folly to at-
tempt any resistance and ordered his men each to take
care of himself. They immediately left the ground,
scattering in different directions. Several of them
were killed and nine wounded in their flight, by the
enemy. Solomon Brown went to the right across the
Bedford road and jumped over a stone wall. As he

SOLOMON BROWN. 127

landed upon the ground a ball from the enemy passed
through his coat, cutting his vest. Another about the
same moment struck the wall. He then dropped
down behind the wall until their attention was drawn
from him. He then took a circuit in their rear
around to the Buckman tavern, where he supposed
many of the company had taken refuge, entered the
back door, and on going over the house found no one
except the pedler, who was for a short time prisoner
with him on the Concord road the night previous.
He then went to the front door and opened it, when
to his surprise the rear portion of the enemy stood in
his front, the army having made a halt. No sooner
had he stepped in the open door- way than a bullet
from an enemy's gun struck the doorpost about mid-
way. Another following it struck the door near the
top. He then stepped back a little, placed his gun
near the muzzle against the door casing, aimed at an
officer standing in the ranks of the enemy and fired.
Not waiting to see the result he hastened through the
house and out at the back door where he entered and
made a hasty retreat through the fields. Being dis-
covered by the enemy, a shower of bullets went whiz-
zing by him until he had reached a distance of some
forty rods, when he slipped and fell, and although his
clothing bore testimony of the close proximity of
some of their bullets, not one marred his person. On
raising himself from his fallen position that cloak of
fear in which he had been so completely enveloped
dropped from him never to return during his service
to the close of the war. Gathering up his gun and

128 SOLOMON BROWN.

equipments and seeing the enemy had started on their
march towards Concord, he returned to the Common,
where he met Abijah Harrington. On relating to him
his story they together proceeded to the spot where
the enemy stood when he fired, expecting to find a
dead body or one mortally wounded, but was rewarded
only with the sight of two pools of blood on the
ground. When enlistments were called for for the
formation of an army he enlisted for three years or
during the war, joined an artillery company in which
he was appointed Sergeant, and served in the Conti-
nental line. His company was assigned to the North-
ern army under the command of General Schuyler,
operating in the Hoosac Valley in opposing the march
of Burgoyne, and was one of the many to whom Bur-
goyne surrendered his army. Soon after his surren-
der the Northern army were ordered into camp for
winter quarters at Valley Forge, a town on the
Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania, about thirty miles
from Philadelphia, where he with his companions in
arms endured the sufferings from cold and hunger of
the terrible winter that followed. In November fol-
lowing he was appointed to an office in Fort Schuyler,
where he remained to the close of the war, and on the
thirtieth day of the same month received the follow-
ing commission :

By Cornelius Van Duyck, Esq., Lieutenant Colonel Commandant
of Fort Schuyler, and Lieutenant Colonel of the First New York
Regiment, —

To SOLOMON BROWN, Conductor.

In reposing special trust and confidence in your patriotism,
valor and conduct, fidelity and capacity, do by these presents con-

SOLOMON BROWN.

I29

stitute and appoint you to be Conductor of Military Stores in garri-
son at Fort Schuyler, and in the Army of the United States, raised
for defence of American Liberty and repelling every hostile inva-
sion. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the
duty of a Conductor by doing and performing all manner of things
thereunto belonging. And I do strictly charge and require all those
under your command to be obedient to your orders as Conductor.
And you are to observe and follow all such orders and directions
from time to time as you shall receive from any superior officer ac-
cording to the rules and discipline of war, in pursuance of the trust
reposed in you. For your so doing this shall be your warrant.

Given under my hand at Fort Schuyler this 30th day of November,

J 778. COR'S VAN DUYK,

Approved by Gbnbrai, Knox. John Fini,y, A. D. C.

At the close of the war, after receiving his discharge,
he entered into the grocery business, starting a small
store in a town then known by the name of Nine Part-
ners, in Dutchess County, New York, where he mar-
ried, continuing there until the spring of 1787, hav-
ing in the fall previous gone to Vermont, where he
purchased a farm of three hundred acres, with only
four acres cleared and a loghouse. In the spring of
1787 he moved his family (wife and child) household
goods and store of groceries to his farm in Vermont,
teaming them to Sutherland Falls on Otter Creek in
the town of Rutland, Vt. From there to Middlebury,
Vt., there being only a road cut through the woods,
not feasable for a loaded team to pass over, he built
a raft of logs and poles, loaded on his goods and
floated them down Otter Creek thirty-two miles to
Middlebury Falls, sending his wife and child with a
few light things over the road cut through the woods,
by team. From there to his farm in New Haven,

130 SOLOMON BROWN.

seven miles, a more feasible road existed, over which
he teamed his goods to his loghouse which served as
a dwelling and store. He continued his grocery busi-
ness for many years, clearing a few acres of land
yearly, sowing it to wheat, transporting his wheat
one hundred miles to Troy, New York, by team dur-
ing the winter season, and taking back such groceries
as he needed to keep up his supply. During these
years he was getting together material for building a
house in the near future. In the year 1799 he had
made on the farm brick and lime for that purpose,
getting clay for brick and lime rock for his lime on
the farm within a radius of seventy-five rods. In the
spring of 1800 he put up a brick house which was
completed during the summer, and moved into it in
the fall, which he lived to occupy and enjoy thirty-
eight years, passing away in 1838, in the eighty-sec-
ond year of his age.

[Mr. Brown does not go further, but he tells me
that Solomon Brown was a man of great energy and
purpose, of the strictest integrity, and relied upon
and trusted by his townsmen, who looked up to him
as adviser and counsellor, and who elected him to
many positions of honor and responsibility.]

Note by Mr. G. O. Smith.

SOME ACCOUNT OF LIEUT. JOHN MUNROE,
HIS FAMILY AND HIS FARM.

Read by Rev. C. A. Staples, November 24, 1891.

Who was Lieut. John Munroe, where were his farm
and dwelling house and what family did he leave be-
hind ? These questions indicate the subjects which
I propose briefly to consider this evening.

The principal part of the territory now occupied by
this village was comprised in a six hundred acre grant,
made by the Cambridge proprietors to Roger Her-
larkenden in 1638.

After his death, which occurred in the same year,
it came into the possession of Herbert Pelham in
1642, first Treasurer of Harvard College, who subse-
quently married the widow of Herlarkenden. By his
will it was left to his son Edward, who retained it
until 1693, and then sold it in three tracts of two
hundred acres each to Benjamin Muzzey, Joseph Esta-
brook and John Poulter. Muzzey's tract included the
Merriam place, the Common, the land on both sides
of Hancock street as far as the Tidd land just above
Mr. Brigham's, and also the north side of Elm av-
enue and Monument street as far as Mrs. Henry Mulli-
ken's, where it bounded on the ministerial land. But
this was only half of Muzzey's purchase. The other
one hundred acres extended from Vine Brook on the
west side of Main street as far as the periodical store

132 LIEUT. JOHN MUNROE.

of Mr. Jones, and then southwest, including both Wal-
tham and Muzzey streets to the top of Coring Hill
and embracing the land owned by Mr. E. A. Mulliken,
much of that owned by Mr. A. E. Scott, Dr. Holmes,
Mr. Chandler Richardson and many others. Such
was the Muzzey purchase. It comprised a large part
of the site of Lexington village. On the south side
of Vine Brook and probably extending on Main street
to near the Munroe Tavern was the John Poulter
tract of two hundred acres, covering the Viles farm,
the farm of Mr. Hunt and the land where Bloomfield
street and Mount Vernon now are, southwest to the
Matthew Bridge place, now known as the Valley
Field Farm. Rev. Joseph Estabrook of Concord,
father of our first minister, Benjamin Estabrook,
bought the tract on the other side of Main street, op-
posite Poulter's. This included Mr. Shaw's, Mr.
Plumer's and Mr. Fletcher's places, the Russell
House and High School sites, the Cemetery, Messrs.
Bacon's, Prescott's and Tufts' places, and extended
far out on the Woburn road towards Scotland. Such
were the divisions made in 1693 of the original Her-
larkenden grant, afterwards the Pelham farm. Now
none of these tracts included the upper half of the
Adair estate, the Dr. Spaulding property, Belfry Hill,
the Dudley Tavern site, Mr. Saville's, Miss Hudson's,
Mrs. Blinn's, and the other places beyond up to Par-
ker street. Whose land this was in the original set-
tlement of the town I am unable to say, but we are
able to trace it back nearly two hundred years, to
Lieut. John Munroe, the eldest son of William

LIEUT. JOHN MUNROE. 133

Mtmroe, who was the first of the family to settle in Lex-
ington. Some of this land he bought of Dr. David Fisk.
John Munroe was born in 1666, probably at the old
Munroe homestead on the Woburn road, not far from
Scotland school-house. His name appears on the first
tax list. He was one of the subscribers to the build-
ing of the first meeting-house in 1693 and to the pur-
chase of the Common in 1711. When he became the
owner of Belfry Hill I have not been able to learn,
but I have no doubt that the house known as the old
Blodgett house, the cellar and well of which have
been uncovered in grading the new school-house lot,
was his dwelling. It was located on what is now
Clark street nearly opposite the Woods' house belong-
ing to Rev. Dr. Porter. A lane led down to it from
Main street and into the meadows and the swamp be-
yond. Afterwards this lane became known as Malt
House lane and is so designated in old deeds. Lieut.
John Munroe married Hannah Marrett and probably
began housekeeping there about 1690. Marrett Mun-
roe, third son, was given his mother's maiden name.
John Munroe was employed for nearly twenty years
to sweep the meeting-house, ring the bell, and keep
the basin and bring the water for baptising, for which
he received a salary of from £1 to £2. Nor was this
humble office then regarded as derogatory to men of
the highest standing in the community. Benjamin
Muzzey held the position and performed its duties
here for some time, and in Brooklyn, Conn., no less
a man than Gen. Israel Putnam held the same office
in the church there, and the bell that he rang still

134 LIEUT. JOHN MUNROE.

hangs in the same meeting-house and is rung every
Sunday. The old Lieut. John Munroe house, better
known as the Blodgett house, must have been one of
the first erected in this village. It was two stories in
height and like most of the old houses of that time
fronted on the south. It was long and narrow, having
but one tier of rooms and was nestled close to Belfry
Hill, which protected it from the cold winds of the
north. Here the valiant Lieutenant lived, probably,
for forty years. His farm was bounded on the south
by Muzzey's land, and extended back to Vine Brook
and on the Ministerial land to Concord road, and so
round to Muzzey's land again, where the periodical
store now stands. He was a busy, prosperous man;
farming, taking care of the meeting-house, which
was swept twice a month, and fighting the Indians,
in which he acquired not a little renown, for the
General Court granted him nine hundred acres of land.
Lieut. John Munroe was evidently a shrewd and
careful manager in worldly affairs, with an eye quick
to see the " main chance," and mind prompt to grasp
and turn it to good account ; highly respected by his
fellow townsmen, and honored with almost every
office in their gift, being constable, selectman, as-
sessor, treasurer, and pound-keeper, as well as jani-
tor of the meeting-house. He mended the tongue of
the bell on the meeting-house, and was on the com-
mittee that built the new house in 1713. From these
varied sources of income he accumulated a handsome
estate for those days, and was spoken of as u f ore-
handed' ' and "well-to-do."

LIEUT, JOHN MUNROE. 135

As years rolled away his property continued to
increase in lands, money and bonds, and with it grew
a desire to make a more respectable and elegant ap-
pearance among his fellow-citizens. Accordingly, in
1729, he built a new house on a more conspicuous and
fashionable site than Malt House Lane. This was
the house afterwards owned by his youngest son,
Marrett Munroe, and now owned by Mr. Saville.
And, besides, he seems to have blossomed out into
numerous suits of bright-colored garments, handsome
and comfortable furnishings for the house, and what-
ever was needed to make life enjoyable. Twenty-four
years remained to him in the new house, after which,
in 1753, he was gathered to his fathers, full of years,
riches and honors, at the advanced age of eighty-
seven, his wife having preceded him by at least forty
years.

In confirmation of these statements, let me appeal
to the inventory of Lieut. John Munroe's estate, pre-
mising that just before his death he had probably
divided his landed property among his three sons,
William, Jonas and Marrett, as there is no mention
of land in the inventory, but only of personal pro-
perty. This document, which I have copied from
the records at Cambridge, is interesting from the fact
that it reveals something of the customs and the
manner of living in Lexington one hundred and forty
years ago. It is as if we were admitted to one of the
most comfortable houses of that period, and permitted
to go into each room, see the furniture, the cooking
utensils, the clothes, the books, and even to look into

I36 LIEUT. JOHN MUNROE.

the cash-box, and count the money, notes and bonds.
These old inventories contain every article of the
household, though it be of the smallest value ; and,
hence, they reveal the conditions of family life far
better than any ordinary history. This is the case
with Lieut. John Munroe's.

LIEUT. JOHN MUNROE OF^ LEXINGTON.
Inventory of his Estate, Nov. 21, 1753.

LIBRARY.

A bibel, 2 Psalm books, and sundrie Books, £\ — 05 — o

WARDROBE.

A Blue Cote, a blue jacket a blue grat Cote, £% — 10— o

A old silk Crup Cote, a black jacket and Camblet Cote, 5 — 05 — o

A red cote, a grat Cote, a jacket and plush briches, 7 — 10 — o

A old dubel Brest Cote, a jacket, striped jack and briches, 2 — 05 — o
3 pair of old striped briches, and grat Cote and one pair

of W. L. Briches, 5 — 12 — o

1 pair of linen briches, a hatt, an old hatt, 8 — 00 — o

1 " " shoes, 2 pair of old shoes, 2 — 00—0

5 " " old stockens, 1 pair of Shoe Bockles, 2 — 00 — o

3 Shirts, 6 Handks, 4 Caps, 9 Shirts, 11 — 15 — o

4 Shirts and apern, 2 — 00—0
3 Silk Handks, 2 pairs Gloves, and 1 pr. mitens, 1 — 06 — o

6 yds half coten and new cloth, 4 — 04 — o

BEDDING AND HOUSEHOLD FURNISHING.

3 coten shets, 2 coten shets, 6 pairs shets, ^25 — 00—0

2 pairs of small shets, 4 pairs of shets, 10 — 00 — o
2 sheets, 4 yards tow cloth, 5 coten peterbrs, 5 — 01 — o
6 prs of peterbars, 3 tabl cloths, 2 tabel cloths, 4 — 17 — o
8 napkins, 0—12 — o
1 f ether bed, 2 peters, 1 father bead and bolster, 2 peters, 39 — 00 — o
1 bead sted, cord and under bead, two under beads, 3 — 10— o
1 bead sted cord, 2 old check curtains, 3—00 — o

LIE OT. JOHN MLNROE.

137

• 2 old wolen blankets, 2 check curtains and 1 Green rug, £1 — 15 — o
1 Large Chist, a small Chist, old Chist,
1 Large tabl, a small box,
6 red chairs in the chambre, a grat chair,
4 old chairs in ye chambre, 10 old chairs in ye garritt,
1 Check Coverlid, 2 Blankets,
1 large putr dish, 1 tobe, 2 small dito,

6 Spoons, 6 old pujtr, a tin tunel, and 7 wooden pits,

7 old knives, 5 forks and brex, 3 old putrs, and a bred pan,
1 pier shovel and tongs, a old sword, a looking glass,
A riten stad, spectecl and case,
An old spotc, old andirons, an old tunnel & iron,
Old iron, a frien pan, a shave, 2 orgers,
6 pounds old brass, an iron chain, 2 old scriteles,
1 old iron pot, 2 old iron ades, 1 pr of tongs and chisil,
A woden bottle, a raser hone, marken iron,
1 old lamp, Shugar box, Candel stick, spix gimblet, bul-

et molds,
Shep sheers, 3 glass hotels, 3 small hotels,
1 copper pot, a mortr, 10 pieces old earthen,

o — 18 — o

o — 14 — o
o — 11 — o

6 woden plats, small dish, a fan, busels, other messrs,
13 pounds of shep's woll, 1 bead sted, >£ dito,
1 label, mel chist, 3 bags, 9 barrels, old tube,
1 pair of flems, 1 glass hotels,

1 powder horn and powder, bulets and flints,
6 wooden plats, 3 chairs in Meetin house,

2 hives of bees,

4 shep, a mere, a cattle,
Hay and grain in Jonas Munroe's barn,
Hay and grain in Marrett Munroe's barn,
Money in the house, a pair of Silver Bucles,
Francis Bowman's Bond, lawfull money,
Ensign Danel Tidd's "

««

old tenor,

Thomas Munroe's

Thomas Ernes'

Nathanel Tuler's

Josiah Howard's Note,

Nathan'l Bacon Bond, lawfull money,

William Simon's " old tenor,

^201 — 18 — o
2—05 — o
5—06—0
3—12—0
o — 02 — o

7-6

1— 13— o

4 — 00 — o

38 — 10 — o

15— 16— o

13 — 10 — o

19 — II— o

13—06—8

11 — 14 — 8

6—13—4
7 — 00 — 1
42 — 00 — o
1 — 00—4
2 — 08 — o
3—i5—o

138 LIEUT. JOHN MUNROE.

Benjamin Stone Bond, old tenor, ^3 — 10 — o

William Munroe's " " 8 — 10 — o

Daniel Come Note, " 5 — 08 — o

Robt. Fisk " " 5—00—0

John Buckman " " 100—00 — o

^*79i—i5—o

Having examined the inventory of his estate, let
us consider his family. Ten children were born to
him, five sons and five daughters, in the old place on
Malt House Lane, several of whom appear to have
died in early life and unmarried. Three sons, how-
ever, grew up to manhood, remained in Lexington,
and became men of considerable prominence in town
and church affairs : William, Jonas and Marrett ; and,
as I have already intimated, the father's landed pro-
perty was divided among them. William, the eldest,
was given the land now known as the Charles Hudson
place, probably extending along Monument Street on
both sides up to Parker Street. He settled his father's
estate. A blacksmith by trade, his shop stood some-
where between the William Ham place and that of
Mr. Saville, and adjoining it was a line of meeting-
house sheds, as seen in the old pictures.

Jonas Munroe had the old homestead on what
is now Clark Street, and near it he erected the Malt
House, which gave its name to the lane leading by
his house. Like his father, he attained military
honors, and is known in our records as Lieut. Jonas
Munroe. He owned one-half of a cider-mill, and his
farm included Belfry Hill, the new school-house lot,
and the land south of Clark Street to Muzzey's line.
This we have from the inventory of his estate, made

».*_i

LIEUT, JOHN MUNROE. 139

in 1766, injwhich he is designated as " Gentleman,"
and where the boundaries of his farm are given. He
had a large^orchard ; and, hence, found use for his
cider-mill. When the belfry was erected, in 1761,
for the new^bell^it was voted to place it on the hill
north of Lieut. Jonas Munroe's house, which corres-
ponds exactly with the location of the house which I
have indicated. In the inventory his land is valued at
^11 1, his malt house, mill and cellars at £6, his old
dwelling house at ^5~8s., one-half of a pew in Lex-
ington meeting-house, between the west door and the
men's stairs, at ^3~6s., and his barn at £6-ii>$"> all
showing that he was a substantial and prosperous
farmer, besides being a " Gentleman."

Marrett Munroe, named for^his mother, was given
the new house fronting the Common, now Mr. Sav-
ille's, built by John, and where his father died. In
the inventory of *Lieut. Jonas Munroe's estate it is
clearly indicated that Marrett's farm did not include
Belfry Hill, but was bounded on Jonas' by the same
line that is seen to-day between Mr. Saville's land and
that of Mr. Rindge. Thus, we are pretty certain
that Belfry Hill and the school-house lot belonged to
Jonas Munroe, and went, with the old Blodgett house,
in the division of the original estate.

Marrett Munroe became a man of some note in
town affairs, and was succeeded by his son, Nathan,
in the ownership of the Saville house and the land
extending back to the meadows and pine swamp.
Indeed, he seems to have had a goodly portion of his
grandfather's thrift in turning an honest penny wher-

-Lri . .

140 LIEUT. JOHN MUNROE.

ever there was an opportunity. In his account books
and papers, now in possession of this Society, we find
that the old Malt House had become his property,
and I think, in addition to his farming, he was en-
gaged in the meat business. Ultimately, he acquired
a large part of the original Munroe land here in the
village. He kept the Social Library for many years,
and also the famous Bible given by Gov. Hancock to
the Church, and carried it to and from the meeting-
house on Sundays ; for which he was duly paid. This
Bible seems to have been regarded as too precious an
object to be left in the meeting-house during the
week ; a box was made for it, and it was put under
the watch and ward of Nathan Munroe.

Having given an account of Lieut. John Munroe
and his three sons, William, Jonas and Marrett, I now
return to the old Blodgett house, to speak of some of
its subsequent owners and occupants. We have seen
that Lieut. Jonas Munroe owned it and the adjoining
land at the time of his father's death in 1753. His
son, John, born in 1737, came into possession of it
after his father's decease. The belfry had been
erected on the hill six years before. The town was
allowed to place it there by his father without paying
for the privilege. But the son, evidently, was not of
so free and generous a disposition, and he immediately
called upon the town to pay rent for the ground on
which it stood, a space about fifteen feet square ;
and, at two successive town-meetings, a vote was
taken to see if the town would allow his claim. It
was passed in the negative, as the town clerk forcibly

LIEUT. JOHN MUNROE. 1 41

records it ; not one farthing would the town pay him,
and, to stop farther clamor about the belfry, it was
immediately voted to move it off the hill down to the
road, and place it where Will Munroe's blacksmith
shop formerly stood, on the west side of Monument
Street, where it remained until it was secretly pushed
across the street on to the Common, causing a prodig-
ious uproar in the town and a lively town-meeting.

John Munroe, whose demand for rent produced this
commotion, grandson of Lieut. John, janitor of the
meeting-house, did not survive long after the removal
of the belfry and its location on the Common. He
died in the following year, and the inventory of his
estate is dated Sept. 22, 1768. It mentions the malt-
mill, two-thirds of one-half of the family pew in
Lexington meeting-house, valued at ^2-13-4, forty
acres of land and personal property to the amount of
^100. Thus, three generations of Munroes were en-
gaged in the malt business, and the name of the lane
where it was located was fairly earned. The old
house seems to have passed out of the family after the
death of the last John. Who became the next owner
or occupant I am unable to tell. But, when first re-
membered by the oldest inhabitant, it was the pro-
perty of Nathaniel Harrington, who also owned Belfry
Hill and the new Hancock School-house lot.

Miss Sarah Chandler says that he lived in what was
known as the Emerson house, standing near the site
of Miss Clara Harrington's residence. In Doolittle's
picture of the Battle of Lexington, that house is re-
presented as standing close to the meeting-house, but

142 LIEUT. JOHN MUNROE.

this is due to the position from which the picture was
taken, the north side of the Common. When Mr.
Harrington built the present brick house for himself,
he moved part of the Emerson house down to Malt
House Lane, and, building up a stone basement,
placed it there for the use of his family, where it
remained for many years, and was occupied as a dwel-
ling house, the lower portion being used as a cellar-
kitchen. It disappeared half a century ago, and the
platform on which it stood has just been removed in
the grading of the school-house lot.

The old Blodgett house stood a few rods farther
west, while the well was half-way between them.
Tradition tells us that a human skeleton was once
found in that well, but, as it proved to be a doctor's
skeleton, which some mischief-making fellow had
stolen and thrown in there, no blood-curdling tale of
crime can be connected with it.

An old house that has sheltered many generations,
the scene of their joys and sorrows for two hundred
years, has a peculiar interest and fascination. Love,
marriage, birth, toil, care, suffering and death have
sanctified the place and made it holy ground. So it
was with the old house on the lane. The weddings,
births, funerals which took place there during the
nearly two hundred years of its existence would form
an extended and interesting history. Asking one of
our elderly members if he knew anything about the
old house, his face lighted up as he replied, "Why,
yes ! I did all my courting there ; I went to house-
keeping there ; and my oldest child was born there."

LIEUT, JOHN M UN ROE. 143

Thus an epitome of life is the history of every old
house where generations have been born, and where
they have lived, toiled, suffered and passed away.

No one of whom I have inquired remembers when
it was torn down. Few among us can even remember
how it looked, or are willing to acknowledge that they
ever saw it, so reluctant are people to be thought ad-
vanced in years ; but it must have disappeared nearly
half a century since, and the house which had shel-
tered so many generations and was called * ( old ' y a
a hundred and twenty-five years ago has almost passed
out of the memory of man, and the name of the first
occupant whom we know, the first janitor of the
meeting-house, the redoubtable Indian fighter, the
Beau Brummel of Lexington in his day, Lieut. John
Munroe, is only preserved on a moss-covered tomb-
stone and in the dim and dusty records of the town.
The malt-house no one now remembers, nor the cider-
mill, nor the wide-spreading orchard ; but in their
place stands the most substantial, convenient and
beautiful public edifice ever raised in Lexington,
built and set apart for the education of the children,
the noble structure just completed, and standing on
what was once Lieut. John Munroe's farm.

HISTORY OF THE STONE BUILDING.

Read by A Bradford Smith, Dec. 12, 1893.

As this building, now known as the Stone Building,
is intimately associated with the Robbins name, it is
fitting that some account should be given of Stephen
Robbins, whose son, Eli, built it.

He was born, Feb. 5th, 1758, and died Oct. 12th,
1847. He married Abigail Winship of this town,
daughter of Samuel, and soon after came to live in
Lexington. Philemon Robbins, an ancestor of his,
was graduated at Harvard, and became a minister;
his sons were ministers, also, and his grandsons, one
of whom was a noted antiquary. He had a valuable
library of historical books and a rare collection of
Bibles. Many of the descendants of Philemon have
been distinguished in the pulpit and at the bar, and
have received high honors from literary institutions.

When Stephen came to live in this village he
bought the James Robinson house, now standing, and
occupied by his great granddaughter, Miss Ellen A.
Stone, the first house below the brick store. He was
a trader, carried on the fur business, and also a tan-
nery on the land between his house and the Morrell
estate. He received a commission from Gov. John
Hancock in 1787 as Quartermaster of the Third Regi-
ment in the First Brigade of the Militia of Massa-
chusetts, comprehending the County of Middlesex.

HISTORY OF THE STONE BUILDING. 145

Eli Robbins, son of Stephen, was born in the Rob-
bins house Nov. 12, 1786. He married, July 31, 1809,
Hannah Simonds, daughter of Joshua Simonds. Mr.
Simonds had charge of the powder in the Lexington
meeting-house, on April 19th, 1775. After the Brit-
ish had passed, he left the meeting-house and took
the first prisoner of war and his gun. The gun was
handed over to Capt. Parker, and kept in the family
until Theodore Parker gave it to the State of Massa-
chusetts ; it is now in the Senate Chamber, over the
door on the east side. Eli Robbins was a public-
spirited man, interested in the growth of the village,
and put his heart into all new enterprises for the
benefit of the town. He bought the land of James
Brown and built part of Pleasant Street, and many of
the houses in the East Village. In 1810 he bought
his father's fur business, also the old house on the
corner of Main and Pleasant Streets, and afterward
the old school-house on Pleasant Street, just off from
Main Street. The first private school in Lexington
was kept in this school-house by Obadiah Parker ;
my father was one of his pupils. Mr. Parker appears
to have been a man of considerable talent. He was
appointed to pronounce a eulogy on Washington in
the year 1800, and was town clerk in 1804.

Eli Robbins built a new house about 181 1, and a
fur factory, and carried on a large business for thirty
years, employing from eighty to one hundred hands.
In 1816 he bought a cannon and equipments for thirty
dollars, to fire a salute on public days. In 18 15 he
bought twenty-two acres of land on the south side of

146 HISTORY OF THE STONE BUILDING.

Main Street, from Oak Street to near the brook, and
sold the land very low, and helped men to put up
houses. In 18 19 he purchased ten acres of land of
Nathan and John Munroe near the Common, and
built a tavern and a store. This created great oppo-
sition from the landlords of the other hotels, and the
selectmen refused to give him a license. Mr. Rob-
bins obtained a legal opinion in his favor from Daniel
Webster, and afterwards the selectmen gave him a
license. The tavern stood near where the Catholic
Church now stands, and was afterwards known as the
Davis Tavern. In 1827 he kept store near the Bow-
man Tavern, just above the Post-office in the East
Village; but after a few years it was burned. In
1828 he built the Brick Store.

In 1830 he erected on Mt. Independence a liberty
pole, built an observatory around it, and had them
insured. It was struck by lightning, and the com-
pany refused to reinsure it, so it was left to go to
decay. The remains of the old flag-staff are still seen
there. At a great expense he built a road to the top
of Mt. Independence for the benefit of the village. In
1833 he bought the Winship Mill, situated near the
residence of Mr. Alderman, and entered largely into
the spice business, and also ground dye-wood. He
was the first man to make rubber coats. His business
became so large that he bought other mills, including
the Perry and Cutter Mills in Arlington and a mill in
Burlington used for printing calicoes. Reading care-
fully the long list of land purchases which Mr. Rob-
bins made, we realize what an extensive real estate

HISTORY OF THE STONE BUILDING. 147

owner lie was, not only in our little village, but all
over the town. Certainly, we owe a debt of gratitude
to one who took so great an interest in the upbuilding
of Lexington.

About the year 1832 Mr. Robbins saw the need of
a public building where lectures, preaching and other
meetings could be held, and where freedom of speech
could be allowed. At that time an u Abolitionist "
was not allowed freedom of speech in this town.
This generation can hardly realize that here, where
the first blood of the Revolution was shed, the people
were indifferent to the great curse gnawing at the
vitals of our dearly-loved country. Four millions of
human beings were in bondage, yet the watchword
was, " L,et the brothers and sisters keep silent.' '
Despite this, the spirit of freedom was kindling its
fires on many altars. From Theodore Parker's lips
came piercing words, and there were many zealous
reformers in our little village even before Dr. Follen
came here ; they were deeply imbued with the love
of freedom. This spirit fired the heart of Mr. Rob-
bins, and led him, in the Spring of 1833, to engage
Mr. Melvin, of Concord, to design a building suitable
for public meetings and lectures. The plan was sub-
mitted to Mr. Robbins, and, meeting with his ap-
proval, its construction was given to Mr. Melvin and
commenced at once.

It is related that while he was employed on this
building he fell in love with a Miss Purkett, whom
he afterward married. Whether this love affair
weakened or strengthened Mr. Melvin for his work,

148 HISTORY OF THE STONE BUILDING.

we are sure that the building is staunch and strong,
after withstanding the whirlwinds and storms of sixty-
years. Mr. Melvin also designed the present Lexing-
ton High School house, which has been oftentimes
unfavorably criticized, but the fault rested largely
with the committee ; he was prevented from carrying
out his own plan in full, and a compromise was
effected.

The first occupant of this house was the late Mr.
Billings Smith, who lived here with his family about
1834. Mr. Samuel Adams taught a private school in
this hall about two years, which was called the " Lex-
ington Institute." There are now living in this
village some who were his pupils. Immediately
after Mr. Adams had hired the building, Mr. Thoreau
came from Concord to get a lease of it for a private
school, but he was too late. Afterwards Rev. Mr.
Crafts had quite a flourishing private school in it, with
a number of Spanish pupils among his scholars, who
boarded with him in the house.

In 1835 Dr. Follen was requested by some of the
people in East Lexington to preach in this hall, and
assist them in the formation of a society. Until then
there had been but one religious society in Lexington,
but the church at the centre being more than two
miles away, made it difficult for many of the inhabit-
ants to attend public worship. Dr. Follen had
preached for Rev. Chas. Briggs, the pastor of the old
church, whom he felt assured was too just a man to
wish to prevent people, under such circumstances,
from forming a religious society and enjoying its

HISTORY OF THE STONE BUILDING. 149

advantages. Although Dr. Follen was told other
clergymen had refused to minister to them, he did not
hesitate ; and so gathered this society.

The people were much pleased with his preaching,
and he was engaged to take charge of the pulpit and
asked to preach as often as possible. When absent,
he was to send a substitute, whom he should approve ;
he readily acceded to this plan, and remained with the
society until next May, when he went to Watertown
to take charge of three sons of the late James Perkins.
He was to occupy the place of father, as well as
teacher to them. Dr. Follen kept his promise to send
a good man to fill his place. Ralph Waldo Emerson
succeeded him and preached in this hall about two
years. Some of us can still look down the aisles of
the past, and in imagination listen to the great philo-
sopher and earnest reformer, whose words have echoed
around the world. Fortunate, indeed, was the little
band gathered here to have the good and gifted
Emerson for their guide in the problems which are
of vital importance, both for this life and the life to
come. Mr. Emerson often said that the lecture plat-
form was his free pulpit. He took great interest in
the Lyceum, and had great hopes for its influence on
the intellectual and spiritual life of our New England
villages.

Rev. John S. Dwight preached here for some time,
and among the noted men who were heard here occa-
sionally were[|Rev. John Pierpont, whose soul seemed
aglow with living coals from the altar ; the gifted Rev.
Theodore Parker, whose words and deeds have become

150 HISTORY 01 THE STONE BUILDING.

immortalized, and who made the walls tremble with
the fervor of his eloquence; and Rev. Samuel J. May,
whose sweetness and spirituality put oil upon the
troubled religious waters in Lexington, when the
Church Fund question was agitating the people. He
was a most zealous philanthrophist. At a conference
held in the Follen Church twenty-four years ago, he
was present, and alluded to the pleasant gatherings
of a little band of worshippers in the hall. Nor can
we forget to mention Amos Bronson Alcott, who mar-
ried a sister of Samuel J. May. Mr. Alcott held a
number of conversation meetings in the room now used
as a reading-room. He would select a subject and in-
vite the people of the village to discuss it. Mr. Cyrus
Pierce, teacher of the State Normal School in Lexing-
ton, was one of the principal debators. The whole
atmosphere of Mr. Alcott's life was pure and spirit-
ually elevated, and he always drew around him a
circle of intellectual men and women.

Early in the spring of 1839 Dr. Follen proposed to
the people of East Lexington that, as they could not
give him an adequate support, they should not call
upon him for parochial duties, that all they should
demand should be preaching on Sunday. This the
committee agreed to, and on the 1st of May, 1839,
Dr. Follen came to East Lexington, occupied this
building, and sent to New York for his furniture.
When it was unpacked they found that all their car-
pets were missing ; they had doubtless been stolen by
a man whose wife and child he had saved from starv-
ing. The ladies of this village bought new carpets,

HISTORY OF THE STONE BUILDING. 151

and met in this hall to make them. One of the car-
pets is now in existence, owned by a lady in this
village.

Dr. Follen found that the people were very desirous
of building a church, and he resolved to give them
all the assistance in his power. He encouraged the
ladies in making preparations for a fair to aid in com-
pleting and furnishing it. The fair was held on Mt.
Independence in August, 1839, in a large tent. On
the evening of the second day a supper was provided,
at one dollar per plate. After the older people had
finished eating, the children were invited to partake.
I was a small boy then, but I think I ate as much as
any of them. The observatory was used for the sale
of ice cream and candies. A wagon trimmed with
trees and evergreen carried one from the top of Mt.
Independence to nearly the Arlington line and back
for ten cents. After the supper, what things were
not disposed of were sold at auction. Francis Bow-
man was the auctioneer. The proceeds amounted to
about twelve hundred dollars. Mrs. Lothrop was
the secretary, and she has the records of the fair in
her possession.

Dr. Follen prepared the plan upon which the
church was built. He so inspired the people that
they agreed to break ground for it on the fourth of
July, 1840. They called upon him to make an ad-
dress upon the occasion. The hall where the people
usually worshipped looked upon the spot where they
were to erect the new church, and the young ladies
of the village dressed it up with roses ; they hung

152 HISTORY OF THE STONE BUILDING.

wreaths around the pulpit and the chandeliers ; and
their pastor, with his heart full of delight at this
beautiful display of taste, and at the success of his
wishes, made an address that filled the hearts of all
who listened to him with grateful joy. His text was,
" No man putting his hand to the plough, and looking
back, is fit for the kingdom of heaven." After ex-
horting the people to show themselves worthy by fide-
lity to their own purposes, and adherence to the
admonition in the text, he spoke of the day itself, our
national jubilee.

He said, " My friends, let us remember those who
labored in times past, and into whose labors we have
entered. Let not the happy reapers forget those who
forged the scythe and watered the grateful meadows
with their blood." Dr. Follen finished his address
by urging the importance and duty of moral, political
and religious freedom to all, and exhorting them to
cherish a sacred respect for the rights of all. He
urged them to consecrate the work they had begun
that day, by a solemn purpose that no one should be
excluded from the church they intended to erect on
account of his honest opinions. He concluded with
a most devout and fervent prayer for the blessing of
God upon the labor of their hands ; prayed that this
church might never be desecrated by intolerance, or
bigotry, or party spirit ; that more especially its doors
might never be closed against any one who would
plead the cause of oppressed humanity ; that within
its walls all unjust and cruel distinctions might cease;
and that there all men might meet as brethren.

HISTORY OF THE STONE BUILDING. 153

When the church was nearly completed, Dr. Follen
went to New York to deliver a course of lectures.
December 23d he united a young couple in marriage
in this village, who accompanied him to New York.
Before Dr. Follen left, he met the committee in regard
to the arrangements for the dedication of the church.
It was decided, in case of the absence of Dr. Follen,
to have the Rev. Mr. Pierpont, of Medford, to preach
the dedication sermon ; he also invited a Methodist,
a Baptist, and a Universalis t clergyman to assist. It
was proposed to have it dedicated on the 8th of Jan-
uary. The committee told Dr. Follen to take ample
time for his visit, and, therefore, it was postponed
until January 15th.

When Dr. Follen was about ready to start for home,
his wife was not able to come with him, and he wrote
to Mr. Amos Adams, asking him to lay the matter
before the committee, consisting of Deacon David
Wellington, James Brown, Ambrose Morrill, and Bil-
lings Smith, who had charge of the dedication, to
have it postponed one week. He wrote, "If you
should be able to see the committee on the day you
receive this letter, let me know their decision by re-
turn mail, and if it cannot be postponed I will come
without my wife." When the letter arrived late in
the evening (the mail came at that time by the stage
coach) one of the committee was in the post-office, and
not having time to notify the other members of the
committee so as to reply by return mail, took the re-
sponsibility to reply himself. He wrote that the
arrangements were all made, and notices posted for

154 HISTORY OF THE STONE BUILDING.

the sale of the pews, and they could not see how it
could be postponed again. Dr. Follen left New York
on the night of January 13th, 1840, to attend
the dedication, and was on board the ill-fated
steamer u Lexington," which was burned on Long
Island Sound, and all on board were lost but four.
This sad catastrophe left agonies in hearts that a
lifetime never effaced. Dr. Follen was a great and
noble man, and the genial, Christian manliness which
spoke in smile, tone and deed, may never be known
by the present generation.

During the summer of 1839 Hon. Jonathan Phillips,
of Boston, made his home in this building with Dr.
Follen, and was the largest donor toward building the
church. Also Gambodella, the great Italian artist,
spent most of the summer here, and on the day of the
fair, he sent up a balloon from the lawn in front of
this building. About Dec. 23d, 1839, Robert James
Mackintosh, son of Sir James Mackintosh, the British
Minister at Washington, married Mary Appleton, and
they came to this house and spent their honeymoon.
During Dr. Follen's absence in New York very little
was seen of them ; one family called, and the call was
returned at eleven o'clock at night. Both were most
elegantly dressed ; he wore an embroidered coat of the
finest texture, and her charming, dignified and win-
ning manners made the visit very delightful. She
was the daughter of the Hon. Nathan Appleton of
Boston, and sister of Mrs. Henry W. Longfellow.
She died in Paris December 13th, 1889.

About 1840 this building was purchased by Stilman

HISTORY OF THE STONE BUILDING. 155

L. Lothrop, and occupied by him and his family for
a number of years. Mrs. Lothrop is now living in
this village in the 80th year of her age. In 1843 a
private school was taught here by Mrs. Trask, who
afterward married Mr. Charles Tidd. In the winter
of i846-'47 a course of lyceum lectures was given in
this hall by some of the ablest speakers of their time.
Among them were Charles Sumner, Wendell Phillips,
Theodore Parker, Josiah Quincy, Jr., and John C.
Park. Sumner's subject was " The True Grandeur
of Nations," an oration delivered in Boston on the
Fourth of July, 1844. The grand sentiments of this
address (though disapproved by the rich men of Bos-
ton) were fully approved and endorsed by John A.
Andrew, John Quincy Adams, and by Richard Cobden,
the great apostle of peace, and Rogers, the English
poet. Wendell Phillips' subject was, " The Lost
Arts." The committee were afraid to let him select
his own subject, for fear it would be on anti-slavery.
Afterwards he delivered the same lecture in Lexing-
ton for the same reason. Theodore Parker's subject
was, u The Landing of the Pilgrims." Josiah
Quincy 's was tl Lafayette," he being on the staff of
Gov. Eustis in 1842, when Lafayette visited this
country. John C. Park's, " The Military of Massa-
chusetts."

One of the first lectures delivered by Gen. Banks
was in this hall. In 1847 Parker Pillsbury, the noted
abolitionist, gave a lecture here on the slavery ques-
tion, and one old gentleman said, " They wanted a
free-soil party." Pillsbury replied, " There is not an

156 HIS10RY OF THE STONE BUILDING.

inch of free soil in the country. " The old gentleman
said, " We wish it to be." Pillsbury replied, " Call
it the wish party."

About 1 85 1 this building was sold to Mr. Abner
Stone. In 1858 it was occupied by Abijah H. Pierce.
He was a merchant in Boston, and was a brother of
the late Samuel Hoar, of Concord, and uncle to our
present Senator Geo. F. Hoar. Mr. Pierce had his
name changed from Hoar to Pierce. Mr. Stone occu-
pied this house with his family at the time of his
death in 1872. Miss Ellen Nash taught a private
school here for a number of years. This house has
also been occupied by several other families, among
them being Mr. Oran Nash, J. F. Maynard, C. G.
Kauff man, Alonzo Leavitt ; the last occupant was
Mr. Eddy.

After the decease of the widow of Mr. Abner Stone,
the town became entitled, under article 3 of her will,
to a gift of one-half acre of land in Lexington, as a
site for a public reading-room and library, the same
to be selected by her daughter, Miss Ellen A. Stone.
In lieu of a literal compliance with said portion of her
mother's will, she offered the town, for the sum of
two thousand dollars, a deed of conveyance of this
large mansion house owned by her, without limita-
tion, with a suitable lot of land adjoining, for library,
reading-room and other purposes. The town accepted
the generous offer, and also voted to place on record
an expression of appreciation of it, and their grati-
tude to Miss E. A. Stone for furnishing a home for
an institution so beneficial to her native village, and

HISTORY OF THE STONE BUILDING. 157

so dear to her mother and herself. It was voted by
the town to call the building the u Stone Building."
The town generously voted an appropriation to repair
the building and make it suitable for the purposes
designated ; and now, as the result, we have a beauti-
ful place where all ages, nationalities, and sects in
our village may gain knowledge and wisdom, not
alone from books and magazines, but also from the
varied classes for instruction, which shall meet here.
It certainly behooves the present generation who
are dedicating anew this hall for educational purposes,
as they recall the literary tastes of their forefathers
and mothers, to make a strenuous effort to enlarge
their mental capacities and cultivate a love here for
the pure and true. This building, we have previously
said, was built for freedom of speech and thought by
Mr. Robbins, and the men who baptized it with their
words were all ardent philanthrophists, and some of
them reformers in advance of their age. This " Stone
Building' ' is a sacred trust committed to our keeping.
Let us strive so to use it that it may prove a rich
blessing to our children and children's children.

EARLY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS.
Read by Rev. C. A. Staples, Feb. ii, 1896.

The first mention of schools upon our town records
is in the year following the incorporation of Lexing-
ton, viz.: 1714, when, under date of November 2d, it
was voted u to Eract" a school-house, to be placed
"upon the ground lately bought of Mr. Muzzey,"
meaning, of course, what is now the Common. It was
to be twenty-eight feet by twenty, and, as the record
says, " eight or nine feet stud," and finished by Octo-
ber, 1 715. The timber used in its construction was
to be taken from the town's land.

But it is hardly probable that there had been no
school within our borders up to this date, when there
must have been at least thirty families living in Lex-
ington. The place had been settled more than sixty
years, a parish had been organized twenty- two years,
and a church, with its minister, maintained for eight-
een years. It is improbable that the children, during
this period, were growing up to manhood and woman-
hood without schools giving them some sort of educa-
tion. But they must have been private schools, kept
in private houses, and maintained by subscription or
charges for tuition ; though, not unlikely, the older
children may have attended school at Cambridge, of
which our territory had formed a part. Be this as it
may, here, on November 2d, 1714, the first action was

EARLY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS. 1 59

taken by the town towards establishing a public
school.

Where was the first school-house located ? I have
no hesitation in saying on the Common, on the spot
where the old monument now stands. Of this I think
there is indubitable proof in the fact that, when the
monument was to be erected, the town voted that it
should be placed on " School-house Hill." Probably
the elevation on which it stands was, originally, much
larger and higher than now, and graded down to its
present proportions when the monument was built in
1799. The school-house was a humble frame build-
ing, with a huge stone chimney and fire-place at one
end, and a turret at the other end, built in 1733, to
hang the meeting-house bell in. Near the school-
house was the well, dug and stoned up in 1732, with
curb and sweep, as the record says, " for the school
and town people on Sundays to drink at." On the
other side of the school-house, in front of Hancock
Church, stood the stocks, built the year before the
school-house, a terror to Sabbath breakers, and other
evil-doers. The school-house appears to have been
finished in 1715, but the school was not opened until
the autumn of the next year, though the town had
voted, in August, to have a school this year, and chose
a committee 4 4 to procure a school-master that will
answer the law." In May, 1716, the town votes ^15
for the school, and also that "each scholar that comes
to it shall pay two pens per week for Reading and
three pens for righting and siphering, and, what that
amounts to at the end of the year, to be deducted from

*
*-,.

1 60 EARL Y SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS.

the ^15, and kept in the town treasury for next year."
The "righting" was, evidently, the perpendicular
hand now so much talked of, a most difficult kind to
teach. The selectmen resolve to pay Capt. Joseph
Estabrook, our first school-master, ^15 for five months'
teaching, extending from Nov. 1st, 1716, to April

1st, 1717.

At last we have a school-house, a school-master
and a school with a well on one side and the stocks on
the other, in the autumn of 1716. The master re-
ceived £$ a month for his services, and taught
" reading, righting and siphering," boarding himself.
It was a boys' school, it being thought, then, not
worth while to educate girls to the same extent as
boys, the female intellect not being equal to the
strain ; but thirty years afterwards, in 1747, the town
magnanimously voted to admit " Gairls " to what was
then called the "Grammar School," kept in the
school-house, and taught by Timothy Fiske. In 1717
the selectmen resolve to establish two female schools,
one at the north, and the other at the south end of
the town. These were schools taught by women for
the younger children and for "gairls," and kept in
private houses. So well did the experiment succeed
that the next year the town voted to have five women
schools, "to be set up, one at the Center, and the
others convenient." That at the Center was taught
by Mrs. Clapp, in the school-house, probably during
the spring and summer, while Capt. Estabrook fol-
lowed in the autumn and winter, making eight or ten
months of school during the year. But in 1719 there

EARL Y SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS. 1 6 1

was a spasm of economical reform in the town, and it
was voted to give up the women schools and " have
a moving school, to be kept a quarter of a year in each
of iour places.' * This vote was finally rescinded, and
it was voted to have it kept the whole year at the
school-house. It was a triumph of the Center over
the " outskirts," as they are called, the beginning of
a jealousy and strife between village and country,
which continued with varying results for more than
twenty years, or until the district school-houses were
built in i795- , 96.

During all this period, there was but one school-
house in Lexington, that at the Center. When the
outskirts were strong enough in town meeting to vote
down the Center, they had a " moving' ' or a "run-
ning" school, as they sometimes called it. The
school was taken from the Center, and carried around
from one quarter to another, staying two months, or
sometimes but one month in a place, and so making
the circuit of the town two, three or four times in
the year. But when the Center out-voted the out-
skirts, then the school was kept in the school-house,
and the outskirts had women schools. It was a con-
tinual contest over the whereabouts of the schools.
There are about twenty of these changes from a sta-
tionary to a u running school," and back again,
recorded in our annals. In 1719 "Sir" John Hancock
was employed to teach the school for a year, at ^40.
He was the minister of Lexington and grandfather
of President John Hancock of the Continental Con-
gress. This is the only instance of his being called

1 62 EARLY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS.

Sir John. We maybe sure that year the boys had to
mind or take the birch and the ferule without mercy.
After this, Capt. Estabrook resumes the charge of the
Grammar School, as it was then called, teaching five
months ; and, at the same time, three female schools
were opened, the town appropriating ^25 for educa-
tion.

In 1724 the town was complained of for not keeping
a Grammar School. Probably it had been voted
down by the outskirts, but it was soon re-opened, with
Capt. Estabrook for teacher, who remained in charge
until he had completed eight years of service. Joseph
Estabrook was the son of Rev. Joseph, of Concord,
and brother of Rev. Benjamin, the first minister of
Lexington. He is spoken of as a man of more than
ordinary education for that period, a land surveyor,
deacon of the church, captain of the military com-
pany, assessor, town clerk, selectman, representative
to the General Court, and school-master. He was,
evidently, held in the highest esteem by the town's
people. In the long line of our public servants, no
worthier man has filled those responsible positions,
and there has been none whom the people more
delighted to honor. He lived on the place now occu-
pied by Mr. Plumer. A portion of his house, it is
thought, forms a part of the present one, and his
estate of two hundred acres extended far down the
Woburn road towards Scotland, including the village
at the crossing. The hill there used to bear the Esta-
brook name. His grave is in the old cemetery, near
his brother's.

EARLY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MAS 7 ERS. 163

In 1 725-' 26, the Grammar School was taught by
Jonathan Bowman, who had graduated' the year before
from Harvard, and who took the school, it is not
unlikely, that he might take the minister's fair daugh-
ter, Elizabeth Hancock, whom he subsequently mar-
ried. The school opened on the first of August each
year, and continued until the middle of March, seven
and a half months, for which he received ^26. He
studied for the ministry with Mr. Hancock, a scheme
which young men used to follow when they had an
eye on something more than the ministry.

He became the minister of Dorchester, where he
preached for nearly fifty years, a man of great inde-
pendence of spirit. But when young Walter Baker
followed his example of getting a wife by studying
for the ministry with her father, he succeeded in get-
ting Mr. Bowman's daughter, but did not succeed in
the ministry, and so gave it up for the chocolate busi-
ness, and founded the great establishment which still
bears his name in Dorchester.

Up to this time the Grammar School of Lexington
was supported partially by tuition fees and partially
by town appropriation, varying in amount from year
to year. But in May, 1727, it was voted that the
school should be free ; and the next year it was voted
that it should be a u running school " at the school-
house, and in the four quarters of the town, the school
to move once a month, ^45 being appropriated for it.
Ebenezer Hancock, who graduated the same year,
1728, from Harvard, now took charge of it, and con-
tinued to be the teacher until he became his father's

1 64 EARLY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS.

colleague in 1734. He received ^40 per annum, and
had the Saturdays to himself, his father, the minister,
making the contract with the town.

It was now called the " Grammar and English
School," which probably means that a classical course
was given fitting boys for college, in addition to the
English branches. During this period it was a run-
ning school, and ran on this plan, viz.: " 1st, thirty-
one days in the Center ; 2d, South Easterly; 3d, South
Westerly ; 4th, North Westerly ; 5th, North Easterly,
and so round twice," giving ten months' schooling.
Thus it continued running for six years, and with no
mention of women schools. In 1737 the teacher,
William Fessenden, has a salary of ^45, and the town
agrees to pay for his entertainment above ten shillings
a week.

The next year another plan for a running school
was adopted. It was to be eight weeks at the school-
house, then to move to the North West Corner for
seven weeks, then to the South East Corner for seven
weeks, then to the South West Corner for seven
weeks, then to the East Corner for seven weeks. "If
any corner neglects to provide a place and board for
the school-master, it is to be kept at the school-
house." This year, 1738, seems to have been an A.
P. A. year, for it was voted to warn all the Irish to
leave the town — five families. The salary is now
advanced to ^80, and Josiah Pearce keeps the school
for three years, followed by Matthew Bridge. It was
voted that "he should have a contribution, by reason
of his giving so unusually dear for his board." In

EARLY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS. 165

1742 the salary had been advanced to ^90 and the
next year the running school was stopped at the
school house, and five women schools were opened in
the outskirts. Here we have an illustration of the
justice, or the want of it, in treatment of women, al-
most equal to that of the Boston schools at the pres-
ent time. While the Grammar School-master received
^90 and board, the five women teachers received but
£25 altogether, or, ^5 apiece, the sum actually
voted them by the town, and boarded themselves !
Each Grammar School pupil was, now, required to
bring two feet of wood for the fire.

Rev. Timothy Harrington was installed over the
school in 1747-48, on these conditions, viz.: u The
school to be dismissed on public occasions, but, if
the time is lost, it is to be taken out of his pay, five
hours in winter and six hours in summer to be a
school-day. Lecture days in town, half a day at fun-
erals, raisings, ordinations in the neighborhood, and
training days to be respected as holidays. " This
liberal allowance of holidays was made when " gairls n
were admitted to the school, probably in considera-
tion of their feebler intellects.

John Muzzey boards the school-master for £1 15s.
per week, equivalent to about $9.00, but the cur-
rency had so depreciated, at that time, as hardly to
be worth five for one of sound money. Deacon Stone
furnishes the master with candles at 5d. per pound.
What an important character the school-master had
become, that even his candles were a matter of public
concern ! Nathaniel Robbins, when teacher, is al-

.1- « • *

*"r ••- % •»:

1 66 EARLY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS.

lowed " half a day each week to preach somewhere ! n
;£i6 for women schools or writing schools is appro-
priated in 1766, but no child living within ii miles
of the school-house may attend them.

We come, now, to the end of the first school-house.
It had been in use forty-five years and was so worn,
hacked and battered that it was past being repaired,
and was, accordingly, torn down and a new one
erected on the same spot. (A much smaller and
humbler building, but 20 ft. square and 6i ft. be-
tween joists, costing ^43 13s. 6d. This, the second
school-house, remained thirty-five years and until
1796, when it was sold to Nathan Kelley for $48.50
and moved away, history does not inform us where,
leaving the Center without a school-house for eight
years, thereafter. This was, no doubt, a triumph
for the outskirts. But, to give an idea of the persis-
tency and fierceness of this contest between village
and country, I will give you some of the changes in
town votes during a few years. In 1762, voted that
the Grammar School remain at the school-house and
^"16 be used for women schools. In 1764, voted to
have a u running school and decide by lot, where it
should stop first, second and so on. " In 1765-66,
voted not to move it, and have six women schools.
But, in 1767, they set it going again, and had it kept
eleven months. In 1768-69-70, voted not to move it
and have women schools. In 1773, voted that the
town be divided into " 7 squadrons for women
schools, " and in 1775, voted to have no Grammar
School this year, on account of the heavy charges,

-.; *•<•

EARLY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MAS 7 ERS. 167

but to have women schools in each quarter and that
they be free, appropriating ^20 for them. Thus, it
would appear that, up to this time, the women
schools had not been wholly free, but the new spirit
awakened by the principles of Liberty, opened the
school doors to every child in the town, never to be
closed again.

After the first year of the great Struggle for Inde-
pendence, the Grammar School appears to have been
continued until 1780, when the town was divided in-
to five parts for women schools ; but two years after
the Grammar School was again opened for four
months and the women schools kept open also. In
1784 and '85, Benjamin Green, another graduate of
Harvard, was the teacher at $10 a month, probably
with board, which was with Rev. Jonas Clark, where
he pursued his studies for the ministry. The com-
pensation, $10 a month, seems miserably small for a
college-bred man, but not when we remember that he
won a wife at the same time, L,ydia Clark, the minis-
ter's daughter, said to have been the most beautiful
and accomplished girl in the town.

Benjamin Green succeeded so well that another
Harvard graduate, Thadeus Fiske, followed him in
1786, who was equally successful, if not in school, at
least in winning the hand of another of the minister's
six daughters, Lucy Clarke. Then followed in suc-
cession, Pitt Clarke, John Piper, and Abiel Abbot, as
teachers, and all college graduates. The last one at
$9 a month. They were, also, studying for the min-
istry, but they did not succeed in capturing more of

1 68 EARLY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS.

the Clarke girls, four having already been caught in
the matrimonial net, and the others proving invul-
nerable to Cupid's shafts.

In 1792, it was voted not to have the Grammar
School at the Center, but to have a Grammar School
in each of the divisions of the town, and this policy
seems to have been carried out for three years, the
village being left, apparently, without a school.
Probably the children went to the North, West and
East Schools. Thus the outskirts had gained com-
plete ascendancy over the village and blotted out the
school which had been maintained here for more than
twenty years.

We come, now, to the time when these out-lying
schools were given a local habitation and a name.
Up to 1795 they had been kept in private houses, each
quarter furnishing a room for the school, at the ex-
pense of the people patronizing it. But in May, 1795,
the town voted to build three school-houses, East,
South and North, and they were completed and occu-
pied the following year, viz.: 1796, one of these,
probably the East, on the hill just beyond the Munroe
Tavern, called Mason's Hill, built there, I suppose,
with the idea of accommodating both villages. In
the year 1800 it was voted that teachers must bring
certificates of their qualifications. It does not say
from whom, or what the qualifications should be.
The Selectmen, also, are requested to visit the schools
to see that they are properly conducted, the first action
of the town looking to any oversight of them, though
the minister was accustomed to visit them once a

EARL Y SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS. 1 69

year and catechise the children in bible history and
religious doctrines.

The Scotland district was denied a school-house by
vote of the town in 1801, and was obliged to continue
to use a private house. But three years later, in
1804, a vote was passed to build three more new
school-houses, of which one should be in Scotland,
one in Smith End, each eighteen feet by twenty-three,
and one in the Center. Thus, after being eight years
without a school-house in this village, the people
secured one, probably by uniting with Scotland and
Smith End, and so out-voting the opposition. The
new school-house was located on the Common, the
third built there, and was placed forty feet beyond
the Monument towards Elm Avenue, in range with
the rear of the Monument. This house is remem-
bered by some of our oldest people who went to school
there. It had what is called a hip roof, and the seats
were arranged in rows, one above the other on each
side from an open space in the middle. This building
was afterwards moved down Main Street, just across
Vine Brook, where it was used for the school until a
new house was built on the same site. The frame
was taken down to the Tufts place, near Bloomfield
Street, where it still holds duty as a stable. The one
built in its stead was soon outgrown and moved up to
Waltham Street, where it forms the house now occu-
pied by Mr. Flood, and a new and larger one two
stories in height was erected on the same spot. This
was finally converted into a dwelling house by Mr.
Horace Davis, and was succeeded by the old Hancock

1 70 EARL Y SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS.

school-house on Waltham Street, destroyed by fire
in 1890.

This was followed by the spacious and noble struc-
ture on Clark Street in 1891, with pleasant grounds
around it and every convenience and comfort within,
the seventh school-house erected in this village during
a period of 176 years. What a vast change from the
first to the last ! In cost, from $250 to $60,000, or an
increase of 240-fold. The change in the branches of
learning taught, in text-books, in methods of instruc-
tion, in the cost of tuition, in all that pertains to the
conduct of schools, has been very great. But how
about the results ? Is the attainment in mental dis-
cipline, in power of thought, in the knowledge most
needful for the work of life, and preparing the young
to fill, worthily, their places as members of society,
citizens and patriots, as much greater than it was fifty
or seventy-five years ago ? Are the schools of to-day
developing better manhood and womanhood than
those of the olden time? Are they inspiring high
aims, pure tastes and earnest striving for the best
things, and so giving promise of a nobler life in the
home, the state and the nation ?

This is the test of the value of our new methods of
education, of the multiplication of studies, of the ex-
tension of the supervision and machinery of public
instruction ; not mere intelligence, but worthy char-
acter, good manners, good morals, good men and
women.

REMINISCENCES OF THE FUR INDUSTRY.

Read March io, 1896, bv Mr. George O. Smith.

It is, perhaps, as difficult to realize what has been
as to forecast what might be. To our younger resi-
dents it may seem incredible that little more than
fifty years ago Lexington was one of the most busy
and active manufacturing towns in the vicinity of
Boston, surpassing Waltham, Woburn or Concord in
that respect. Here boots and shoes were manufac-
tured on a scale which, for those times, would com-
pare favorably with the L,ynn and Brockton of to-day.
Two saw-mills, a grist-mill and a spice-mill were in
operation, and several wheelwright shops, whose pro-
duct, beyond the local supply of carts, wagons, car-
riages, etc., was shipped to the south and west.
Blacksmithing establishments were much more num-
erous than now. Clocks were here made by numerous
makers, some of which, after a service of three-quar-
ters of a century, still mark the flight of time as
correctly as at their beginning ; and here once existed
a malt-house, a pottery, a tannery and a turning-mill.

A bake-house furnished bread and crackers for the
hungry in this and the surrounding towns. At one
time rubber goods were made, though I think only for
a short time, and of furrier establishments, four have
been at one time in successful operation, whose out-
put, it is believed, was greater at that time than any

172 REMINISCENCES OF THE FUR INDUSTRY.

outside Boston or New York, if, indeed, it did not ex-
ceed any in the country.

About the time of the building of the railroad in
i845- , 46, some hope was expressed that Lexington
might again assume a prominent position as a manu-
facturing town. A few people, however, owning land
suitable for dwellings, frowned upon such a project,
and it is probably due to their efforts and influence
that our town is to-day so free from the defects which
prevail in a manufacturing district, and is, as our
lamented Governor Greenhalge termed it, an u idyllic
town" for private residence.

Among the memories of my childhood none is
pleasanter than the loitering, watchful hours passed
in the fur shops, and it is with this business and its
projectors my paper has to do.

My memory reaches back only far enough to take
in something of the establishment of Eli Robbins, and
something more of that of Ambrose Morell, who con-
tinued longer in the business. Before the beginning
of the century, however, Stephen Robbins had done
an extensive business, mostly in the exchange of dry
and West India goods for pelts and skins, which after
being dressed and finished were again exchanged for
goods, or sold. In connection with his fur business
he kept a store, paying his many workmen in goods,
which was a common custom in those days.

While Stephen Robbins was engaged in the busi-
ness, and before Ambrose Morell's connection with
it, another fur establishment was operated by Joshua
Swan.

REMINISCENCES OF THE FUR INDUSTRY. I 73

The Robbins establishment was situated at the
junction of Massachusetts Avenue and Pleasant Street.
Mr. Morell's was on a part of what is now the Dana
Estate, and Mr. Swan's on the place later owned by
my father. He occupied the house in which I was
born, and his workshop, afterward enlarged, became
my father's store. All these building have been re-
moved. Of Mr. Swan I only know that he was sup-
posed to prosper, and that he moved away or went out
of business early in the present century.

Mr. Stephen Robbins continued the business, prob-
ably, till 1809, when he relinquished it to his son,
Eli Robbins, who had been associated with him. A
curious item for taxation is found in the Assessors'
books of this period. In 1805 Stephen Robbins is
taxed on his " faculty," which is rated $100. A.
Morell " faculty," $60 ; Joshua Swan, $65. As I find
only those having a trade or profession subjected to
this tax, it was probably a tax on their trade or
calling.

Mr. Ambrose Morrell commenced business on his
own account in 1802 or 1803. His name appears first
on the tax list of 1803. In the early twenties his shop
was destroyed by fire, but he immediately rebuilt, and
continued in business till March, 1839, when he sold
out to Calvin Dimick & Co. This firm consisted of
Calvin Dimick, Franklin Gammell and Elisha Spauld-
ing. Mr. Dimick was a resident of Cambridge, doing
a fur business in Boston. Mr. Gammell was a native
of Lexington, a son of John Gammell, and brother of
Jonas Gammell, who filled several town offices ; and

1 74 REMINISCENCES OF THE FUR INDUSTRY.

Mr. Spaulding was a resident of Lexington, who with
Mr. Gammell had been in the employ of Mr. Morell.
Mr. Franklin Gammell died February 12, 1842, and
I think Mr. Spaulding then retired from the firm.
The business was continued under the same name,
Mr. Spaulding remaining in the employ of Mr.
Dimick. Mr. Dimick continued the business for
some years, and was succeeded by Howe & Hanscom.
The business, under the firm of Howe & Hanscom,
was removed from the shop built and formerly occu-
pied by Mr. Morell to the Winship Mill, and afterward
passed to Slocomb & Co., of Boston, and, a few years
later, to Samuel Emmes & Co., of Boston, who, later,
sold to Daniel Carline. After the Winship Mill
passed to the town of Arlington, Mr. Carline moved
his business to Boston, and later to Chelsea, in which
city he died a few years since. He was the last suc-
cessor to the business established by Mr. Morell, and
the last in the business in this town.

Three other parties have been engaged in the fur
business in Lexington within my recollection : John
Gammell, Jr., John W. Blanchard, and Proctor &
Prescott, but on a smaller scale than Mr. Robbins or
Mr. Morrell. Mr. Gammell's business was located,
first in a small shop opposite Oak Street, on Massa-
chusetts Avenue, and, later, with greater facilities,
on land now owned by the estate of Patrick Mitchell,
and occupied by Mr. A. B. Black. Mr. Blanchard's
shops were also on the estate of Patrick Mitchell, near
the East Lexington Railroad Station, and now altered
into tenement houses. The shop of Proctor & Pres-

REMINISCENCES OF THE FUR INDUSTRY. 175

cott was located on Massachusetts Avenue, on land
now belonging to Mrs. Lothrop. This shop was re-
moved many years ago. I think each of these estab-
lishments ceased to exist in the fifties. Mr. Gammell
gave up business and moved to the west, where he
died some years ago. Mr. Blanchard moved to Con-
necticut, where he continued in the business, and died
about three years since. Mr. Prescott died a few
years after their business was established, and it was
continued for a short time by Mr. Proctor, who after-
wards moved to Natick, where he died.

These factories turned out fur capes, caps, muffs,
boas, tippets, gloves, fur-lined overshoes, and trim-
mings in variety. The industry furnished employ-
ment for many men, women and girls in the shops ;
and many girls in well-to-do families found good
revenue for ' ' pin money ' ' in sewing furs and making
caps and muffs in their homes. It has been estimated
that from three hundred to five hundred persons have,
at times, been furnished employment from these
establishments, when in the height of their pros-
perity.

Stephen Robbins, the pioneer in the fur business
in Lexington, was born in Lexington, February 5,
1758, and was a descendant, in the sixth generation,
from Nathaniel Robbins, who came from Scotland
about 1670 and settled in Cambridge. He married
Abigail Winship, a daughter of Samuel Winship, of
Lexington. He was an active and shrewd business
man, and became the owner of a large estate in land,
a good proportion of which was wood and peat land.

176 REMINISCENCES OF THE FUR INDUSTRY.

On retiring from the fur business lie devoted himself
to tilling his land, selling his wood and peat, and car-
rying on the Winship Mill.

As I remember him he was a man of fine features,
and of medium stature. He wore a long, straight-
bodied coat, ruffled shirt, knee breeches, and a low-
crowned broad-brimmed hat, with his hair in a queue,
and he carried a long staff. He was the last man I
remember as wearing the old Continental costume,
with hair in a queue. He owned a white horse, which
was kept constantly harnessed to a bellows-topped
chaise, ready to take him to the various places where
his work was being carried on.

He was liberal to the poor, and many needy fami-
lies and widows found occasion to thank him for fuel
left at their doors. Mr. Robbins had a housekeeper
of extremely frugal habits, who was in his service for
very many years. It was said that on occasions when
persons not over-blessed with this world's goods called
to settle their accounts for fuel he would frequently
ask if they would like a little sugar, salt pork, or
some articles desirable in housekeeping, and would
say to his careful housekeeper, "Go down cellar and
get a pound of pork and give her some sugar."
"Why, Mr. Robbins, we haven't more than enough
pork to carry us through." "Miss Blank, get two
pounds." "Why, Mr. Robbins, we are next to the
last layer." "Miss Blank, get three pounds," and
so on till the frugal woman reluctantly went on her
mission of charity.

His large property of wood and peat lands gave em-

REMINISCENCES OF THE FUR INDUSTRY. 177

ployment to many men in cutting, drying and team-
ing to market, and several hands were required to
keep grist, saw and spice-mills in operation.

Although unusually active for a man of his age, he
was looked upon in his later years as a very old man.
But this was not his own opinion. Accosted one day
by a neighbor with, " Mr. Robbins, you are a very
old man," he replied "Oh, no, I'm not old. I shan't
be old till I'm ninety." He died October 12, 1847,
aged eighty-nine years, eight months and seven days,
so he did not live to be "old." The land upon which
the c c Follen Church ' ' stands was given by him to the
Society.

Eli Robbins, who succeeded to the business of his
father in 1809, was born in Lexington November 12,
1786. He married, July 31, 1809, Hannah Simonds,
of Lexington, daughter of Joshua Simonds, who on
the 19th of April, 1775, " went into the meeting-house
for powder, and finding himself cut off from the com-
pany, cocked his gun and placed the muzzle on an
open cask of powder, determined to blow up the house
in case the British should enter."

Mr. Robbins did an extensive and prosperous busi-
ness, occupying several buildings. He was a public-
spirited and generous citizen, and did much for the
growth and progress of the town. Among the many
buildings erected by him in East Lexington was the
"Stone Building," which, I am told, he hoped might
at some time be occupied as a bank. His daughter
told me that, when the building was being erected,
the anti-slavery and temperance agitations were be-

178 REMINISCENCES OF 7 HE FUR INDUSTRY.

ginning, and it was found difficult to procure suit-
able places for the discussion of these topics.

The school committee had refused the use of the
school-house, and the church had been closed to peti-
tioners. Mr. Robbins declared there should be a
place in which any subject of interest to the welfare
of the community could be discussed ; and when this
building was planned it was so arranged that the
whole second floor could be thrown into one room.

In this hall many Lyceum Lectures were delivered,
and here, before the Follen Church was built, Follen
and Emerson preached, Mr. Robbins remitting to the
Society the rent of the room.

His coloring shop had once been known as * ' The
Academy," where a school was kept under Master
Parker. It was located on the right side of Pleasant
Street, near its junction with Massachusetts Avenue,
and was afterward used as a public school-house. The
main factory building, north of his building, was
fitted with machinery propelled by horse-power.
Later, this factory was occupied by Philip Graves
as a furniture factory, and, while so occupied, was
burnt to the ground.

In addition to his fur business, Mr. Robbins did a
considerable business in mills from Burlington to
" The Foot of the Rocks," now Arlington Heights.
Printing of cloth fabrics was done at the Burlington
Mills ; grain and spices were ground and lumber
sawed at the Winship Mill ; while at * c The Foot of
the Rocks," spices, grain and dye-woods were ground.
At the Winship Mill rubber goods were at one time
manufactured.

REMINISCENCES OF THE FUR INDUSTRY. 179

His business was greatly expanded, and in the
financial crisis of 1837, inability to make collections
forced him into bankruptcy with hundreds of others.

In his prosperity, about i834-'35, he erected a
three-story observatory on Mt. Independence, and laid
out drives to, and walks around the summit, connect-
ing the two driveways to the summit by a walk an
eighth of a mile long. This walk was built of two
solid stone walls, filled in with gravel, the side toward
the summit having a trellis the whole distance cov-
ered with Isabella grape vines. Many citizens and
strangers visited this observatory, and it was not un-
usual, especially on holidays and Sundays, to see
many carriages by the roadside, whose owners were
at the observatory. This lookout commanded exten-
sive views in all directions, and the shipping in the
harbor of Boston could be plainly seen. The growth
of trees has robbed this view of much of its former
beauty.

In early life Mr. Robbins had taught dancing. He
was an expert performer on the violin (playing only
"by ear"), and in summer evenings frequently
played, seated upon his doorstep, much to the delight
of listeners, old and young. He died September 27,
1856, aged seventy years.

Nicholas Ambrose Morell (known by his neighbors
and on our town records as Ambrose Morrill) was born
in France, April 7, 1777. His earliest recollections
were of being in the country with an old nurse named
Blondell. He did not remember his parents. At the
age of seven years he was placed in a convent at Paris,

l8o REMINISCENCES OF THE FUR INDUSTRY.

founded by St. Vincent de Paul, to be educated for
the priesthood. Here he served at the altar for about
four years, responding to the prayers of the priest in
Latin, washing the hands of the priest, pouring the
wine and water into the chalice, etc. The prayers
and psalms which he then learned he remembered in
his old age. He was also a member of the choir, and,
when quite aged, he frequently sang the chants and
other church music, at the request of his children and
grandchildren.

He remained at this convent till the breaking out
of the French revolution, in 1789, when this, with all
other religious institutions, was broken up, and his
studies were discontinued. He then lived with an
uncle at Versailles, from whom he acquired the
knowledge of dressing and coloring furs. He pursued
this business one year at Rouen. At this time the
law of conscription was put in force, and Rouen was
obliged to furnish 355 soldies.

He was drawn as one of the conscripts. Having a
horror of war, he fled to Paris, and lived in disguise
until discovered and taken to the military depot,
about a mile from the Bois de Bologne, where a regi-
ment was forming. Alone and friendless, deeming
war sinful under any circumstances, and considering
self-preservation the paramount duty, and that the
end would justify any means, he wrote to the captain,
in the name of the former physician of the convent (an
acquaintance of the captain), requesting his influence
in favor of the young Ambrose. The next day, while
on drill, he was called out by the commander of the

REMINISCENCES OF THE FUR INDUSTRY. l8l

regiment and promoted to be a corporal. Very
soon the regiment was ordered to join the army,
but the commissioned and under officers remained
to drill the conscripts as they arrived. His lead-
ing thought, still, was to escape being a soldier,
and, by offering half his pay to the teacher of the band,
he was taught to play the clarionet, and finally be-
came a member of the band. His regiment was
now ordered to join the army stationed on the fron-
tier near Switzerland. Bonaparte had just then re-
turned from Egypt and the regiment passed in review
before him. The grand project of invading Italy by
crossing the Alps was already in operation. The
march commenced in the month of June, the band
of which he was a member taking the lead, and not-
withstanding his professional duties the sublimity
and beauty of the scenery made a deep impression
upon his mind. As they advanced toward the Con-
vent of St. Bernard, situated near the top of the Alps,
the soldiers were obliged to dismount and lead their
horses, fearing to disturb the deep snow gathered on
the precipices, and bring them down in avalanches
upon their heads. In some of the narrow passes
they were forbidden to speak lest the vibrations
might produce the same fearful result. They de-
scended in the same manner, till, at length, after
suffering almost unendurable hardships, they found
themselves in a small village near the plains of
Marengo, where a few days later, one of the most
memorable of Napoleon's battles was fought. The
French were victorious, but with tremendous loss.

1 82 REMINISCENCES OF 7 HE FUR INDUSTRY.

Morrill's regiment consisted of 800 men, but at the
close of the battle 625 of them lay dead or wounded
on the field. Several days were spent in burying the
dead, and later, the shattered remnant of the regi-
ment was sent to Holland to recruit.

Still intent upon his cherished idea of escaping
from the army, he applied to the colonel of the regi-
ment for a discharge, as a musician, which was
readily granted. He was, however, still a soldier,
and liable as a conscript. Risking this danger he
immediately went to Amsterdam and secured work
as a journeyman in a fur manufactory. When the
busy season was over he found employment for some
months with some Dutch merchants who were en-
gaged in trade with New York and Boston. One
day, after receiving his monthly pay, his employers
surprised him by asking him if he would like to go
to America. u Oh, yes," said he, " for when I was
in France, I used to think America was the land of
Angels." u Have you money to take you there?"
" No ! " u Have you influential friends ? " " No ! "
u It is a pity," said they ; u but then you could not
go, for France being at war with England, and Hol-
land being allied with France, you cannot get a pass-
port. If you can only get a passport you may go."
The idea of going to America was now ever with
him ; he could think of nothing else. Determined to
overcome all obstacles, he, at last, matured a plan.

He presented himself before the Prussian consul
and solicited a passport as a subject of the King of
Prussia. "But," said the consul, u you are not a

REMINISCENCES OF THE IUR INDUSTRY. 1 83

Prussian, you speak very bad Dutch or German."
" True," replied he, " but I come from Neuchatel, a
province belonging to your dominions, but where the
people speak the French language." u Oh ! yes, I
know," said the consul, and without further question
gave him a passport, which he immediately presented
to the Dutch merchant. The old Dutchman was as-
tonished beyond measure, and, taking his pipe from
his mouth, exclaimed, u Not one in a thousand could
have done it." u But as you have no money nor
friends, what security can you give us if we advance
you money with which to pay your passage ? ' ' " None,
but if I get to America I will certainly send you the
money, and if I die I am sure to go to Heaven, and,
when there, I will intercede for you." This was
spoken with all sincerity and simplicity of heart.
u You shall go," said the merchant, and immediately
procured a passage for him in the ship " Egalite,"
commanded by Captain Hall, of Duxbury, Mass. He
was forty- two days on his passage, and very seasick
all the time, so that he despaired of reaching America.
The vessel was bound for New York or Boston, and
he was furnished, by his kind Dutch friends, with let-
ters of recommendation to John Jacob Astor of New
York and Charles Sigourney of Boston. The Captain,
having spoken a vessel and learned of the prevalence
of yellow fever in New York, changed his course for
Boston, stopping at Plymouth that he might obtain
tidings of his family. Here, relieved from his sea-
sickness, Ambrose went on shore, entered a cornfield
— thinking it a vineyard — and, among the tall, waving

1 84 REMINISCENCES OF THE FUR INDUSTR Y.

corn, he knelt down, and made a vow never to return,
a vow which he religiously kept, though often solic-
ited to disregard it. He arrived in Boston in Septem-
ber, entirely ignorant of the English language ; but
through the kind offices of Mr. Sigourney he soon
procured employment as a manufacturer of furs, and
at the expiration of six months repaid the money
which the Dutch merchants had advanced for his
passage to America. They were so well pleased with
his honesty and promptness that they again wrote to
Mr. Sigourney to give him any assistance he might
require. Mr. Sigourney proved himself a valuable
friend. The names of his Dutch benefactors were
Van Bergen and Stenbrenner. The exact date of Mr.
MorelPs coming to Lexington is not known, but it
was probably late in 1801 or 1802, and he entered the
employ of Joshua Swan before alluded to. (His name
first appears on the Assessors' list in 1803). The wife
of Mr. Swan was a helpmate in business and Mr.
Morell found her very complaisant and friendly and
after a time discovered that she was stealing his art,
the art of coloring, which possibly he was the first to
introduce into this country. After remaining with
Mr. Swan for a time, he purchased the estate now
owned by Mrs. Dana, his daughter, built a shop and
commenced business on his own account.

In the early years of his life in this country he was,
many times, importuned by Bishop Cheverus of Bos-
ton to resume his studies for the priesthood, and at
last Mr. Morell said, decidedly, to him, " No, I have
seen Sally ! " who became his future wife. He mar-

REMINISCENCES OF THE IUR INDUSTRY. 185

ried, January 7, 1805, Sally Holbrook of Sherborn.

Mr. Morell was greatly respected by his neighbors
and by all with whom he came in contact. He was a
firm believer in America and American institutions,
and aside from the accident of birth, thoroughly
American. He was devoutly religious. Though born
and educated within the Roman Catholic Church he
became a Unitarian. He was fond of reading, caring
most for German literature and metaphysics, and he
greatly enjoyed discussions upon these topics with
Emerson and Follen, who were often his guests. He
was a man of rare simplicity and kindness of heart,
loved children, was fond of pet animals and very be-
nevolent, with a vivacity and politeness thoroughly
French. His French accent had a peculiar fascina-
tion. He was interested in the schools, was chosen
one of the school committee, and upon other town
committees, twice represented the town in the Gen-
eral Court, and was a Justice of the Peace.

He was a member of u the committee which re-
ported to the town in 1821, on the general subject of
the schools," of which Mr. Hudson says, " The report
was able and well considered, and to the honor of the
committee it should be stated that the changes they
recommended in the school system, were, six years
after, substantially adopted by the Legislature for the
government of the schools in the Common wealth."

He was quick at repartee, and enjoyed a joke of
which he might be the victim as keenly as those who
played it, and would tell it with as keen a zest. In
entering in the family Bible the dates of his own and

1 86 REMINISCENCES OF THE FUR INDUSTRY.

his wife's birth, he deducted several years from his
own age, that they might appear on record as nearer
the same age. After some years he said u the Bible
has told lie long enough," and changed the date of
his birth to the correct one.

Riding home from Boston he saw a collection of
people, and stopping to inquire the cause, found that a
very penurious person, whom he knew, had fainted or
was overcome with heat. Taking a quarter from his
pocket, he said in his French- English, " There, put
this to he's nose, and, by Joe ! he will be all right."
Many stories are told of him, showing keen wit and
enjoyment of the sunny side of life.

For one accustomed only to our early New England
ideas, and the staid and sober ways of those who had
passed the meridian of life, it would be difficult to
realize how the sprightliness and vivacity which were
a part of his being never, in him, seemed out of place.
In his family, even in his old age, he had the simpli-
city and playfulness of a child. When his hair was
white with the frosts of more than eighty winters, I
have seen him run about his grounds in frolic with
his grand-children, of whom he made confidants and
playmates. Mr. Morell distinctly remembered seeing
Lafayette when as Commander of the National Guard
he rescued the Royal Family from the mob at Ver-
sailles. When Lafayette visited Lexington, they had
a long and interesting interview. He retired in usual
health on the night of April 26th, and in the morning
of April 27th, 1862, he had passed away, — and the
poor of his neighborhood had lost a benefactor. His
age was eighty-five years.

THE MILK BUSINESS AND MILK MEN OP

EARLIER DAYS.

Read by Mr. George O. Smith, Aprii, 13, 1897.

No living citizen can recall the time when the milk
and milk dealers of Lexington were not held in high
esteem, the one for quality, and the other for thrift
and honest dealing.

The fertile lowlands and green hillsides of Lexing-
ton, with their abundance of pure water, seem, natur-
ally, to have attracted the attention of the early
settlers of u New Towne," who, in their desire to in-
crease their herds, had called for u more land, espe-
cially meadow," suggesting larger grazing and haying
fields. Here all their requirements seemed combined,
and, as a result, the production of milk has been, for
generations, a prominent feature in the business of
Lexington.

Few of us have any clear idea of the extent of this
industry in our town. In 1780 the assessors' list gives
the number of cows taxed to residents as 452. Of
course many families kept a single cow ; but in that
year I find Maj. John Bridge's herd consisted of 14 ;
Nathan Reed's, 13 ; Isaac Bowman's, 12 ; Amos Mar-
rett's, 9 ; and many others from 3 to 9.

In 1809 and 1810 the number of cows had increased
to 554 and 556 respectively. In these two years cows

1 88 MILK BUSINESS AND MILK MEN.

were valued at #11 each for taxation, and the larger
herds were owned as follows : Reuben Pierce, 20 ;
Amos Marrett, 19 ; Benjamin Wellington, 18 ; Jonas
Bridge, 15 ; Phineas Lawrence and Zeb Adams, 10
each ; many others owning a smaller number.

In an article by Caleb Steson regarding Lexington,
published in the " Boston News Letter and City
Record,' ' May 26, 1826, he says: " Before Charles
River Bridge was built (1786) the products were like
those of towns forty or fifty miles back, as bad roads
and long distances through Brighton, Brookline and
Roxbury made transportation expensive and tedious. "
Previous to that, dairies were common, and butter and
cheese were made ; grain was raised, and cattle and
pork were staples. " In 1826 no less than thirty
vehicles loaded with milk go daily to Boston. Dur-
ing nine months of the year 200 gallons of milk are
sent to Boston daily ; half that quantity is sent the
other three months." In this statement, the quantity
is probably underestimated.

The State census returns of 1875 show the number
of milch cows to be 973, valued at #53,860, with a
product of 510,551 gallons of milk, valued at #99,907.
Average value each cow, #54 ; product of each cow,
#102.68 for the year; average per. gallon of milk,
19.56 cents, or nearly 5 cents per quart. In this
same year (1875) the city of Worcester produced
611,712 gallons of milk, valued at #131,339 ; Worces-
ter being the only city or town in the State with more
cows or a larger product than Lexington.

By the census returns of 1885 the number of cows

MILK BUSINESS AND MILK MEN. 189

in Lexington had increased to 1,320, with a product
of 762,850 gallons of milk, valued at $106,908, in
which there was a perceptible gain upon Worcester ;
but in this same year Concord exceeded Lexington
693 gallons in her milk product, though the value of
her cows was less, thus placing Lexington third in
production among the towns of this State.

In neither of these census returns is Lexington
credited with having produced any u cream, " while
most towns having a fair industry in this line are
credited with a considerable product, which would in-
dicate that the cream is left in the milk, and may
account for the popularity of Lexington's product.

In the early days the farmers or milk producers
carried their own product to market, and supplied
families in Boston, Cambridge and Charlestown.
Benjamin Wellington seems to have been the first to
establish a " route," furnishing milk daily to regular
customers, at the beginning of the century, followed
closely by Reuben Pierce, Jonas Bridge, Phineas Law-
rence, Samuel Downing, and Nehemiah Wellington.
The earliest vehicle or conveyance was the common
horse cart, which was succeeded by a covered cart on
springs, — not unlike the square top chaise of our
grandfathers. A few of these carts remained until a
comparatively recent date.

These were superceded by the milk wagons of four
wheels, though the name u milk cart" is still used.
It is probable the first milk carried to Boston for sale
was in jugs and kegs, but the first receptacle specially
designed for carrying milk was the wooden " bottle,"

I90 MILK BUSINESS AND MILK MEN.

like the one presented the Society by the late Sidney
Lawrence, holding about six quarts, the milk being
poured from a tin or copper tube, which fitted the
bung-hole. Next the tin can, or u bottle," as it was
formerly called, was used, holding from seven to eight
quarts, with a stopper much smaller than the one in
present use.

As the population increased in Boston and vicinity,
and the demand for milk became greater, men not
owning herds — the u milkmen" as we know them —
went into the business, buying milk of the farmers and
selling again to the consumers, which, in time, became
very profitable. Driving over a route of ten or twelve
miles twice each day required road horses of good
pluck and bottom, and the milkmen, as a class, be-
came good judges of horses, and, in some instances,
" horse fanciers." Many fine and fast horses were
owned by Lexington milkmen. When races occurred
at the North Cambridge race course, our main street
was alive with u speeders" to and from the course,
and lively stepping was the order of the day. The
afternoon nap was dispensed with on these days.

The milkmen's horses often showed great intelli-
gence. One milkman (E. A. Mulliken), stricken with
fever and having no helper, was in doubt how to
supply his customers. He sent for a man (J. Frank
Giles) formerly employed on another milk route, who
had left the business to learn a trade. Mr. Mulliken's
route was in Medford, and utterly unknown to the
young man, but by the end of the second day the
horses, stopping where they were accustomed to stop,

MILK BUSINESS AND MILK MEN. 191

had told him of every customer, with the excep-
tion of one who was reached by a cut across a vacant
lot.

The retail price of milk has varied from the old
time price of five cents per quart to six and seven
cents, the present price being six cents in some places
and seven in others ; while eight cents per quart is not
uncommon. The price paid by the dealers has varied
according to demand and supply. The books of
the late Nathaniel Pierce show that the prices paid by
him from the years 1818 to 1823 vary from sixteen to
fifty cents per can of seven and a half to eight quarts,
although in August, 181 8, he notes the astonishingly
low price of one cent per quart, or seven and a half
cents per can. The average price in 1818 was about
twenty-five cents per bottle of six quarts, and thirty-
three cents per can of eight quarts.

A summer of good rainfall and luxuriant pastures
would greatly increase the product, and the absence
of families from the cities, lessening the demand,
would create a surplus, which, probably, accounts for
the extremely low price in August, 1818.

In comparing present prices with those of long ago,
the change from beer to wine measure should betaken
into account, the wine gallon or quart being about
one-fifth (22-100) less than the beer measure.

The life of the milkman of fifty years ago was no
" holiday picnic," whatever it may be to-day. To
rise at midnight, or a half hour later, build the kitchen
fire, then " hustle " to the stable to give feed to the
horse to be used that day; return to the kitchen,

192 MILK BUSINESS AND MILK MEN.

make coffee, and cook a steak or chop, or boil the
eggs, — which, in a majority of cases, made the prepa-
ratory meal for the day, — then load the milk on the
cart or wagon before " hitching up" for the start,
was the every-day routine of the milkman's life.

A half-sleeping, half- waking drive at a slow pace,
the twenty or thirty cans of milk being too heavy for
quick driving, and he reached the beginning of his
u route " at early sunrise, summer and winter. From
three to five hours were occupied in going over his
" route " from house to house, the quantity delivered
varying from a pint to a full can, after which came
breakfast in Boston, Cambridge or Charlestown ; and
while he breakfasted his horse was fed. By this time
it was nine or ten o'clock in the morning. A sleepy,
listless ride brought him to his home anywhere from
eleven to one o'clock. After this came dinner, washing
and scalding of cans, and the afternoon nap, lasting
from one to three hours. Then the milk must be col-
lected for the next day's supply ; and if a helper was
employed, — known to the fraternity as a " striker ", —
it was his duty to drive to the farms and take on the
morning's and night's milking, reaching home, accord-
ing to distance covered, anywhere from seven to nine
o'clock. In a few exceptional cases the milking was
done at so early an hour that the morning's milk was
taken immediately. Mr. Nathaniel Pierce did this for
many years.

In the early days when no ice was used in the busi-
ness, farmers often suspended their milk in their
wells, and the milkman was fortunate who had a run-

MILK BUSINESS AND MILK MEN. 193

ning spring or brook upon his place, which made an
excellent cooler and preserver of his milk. If he had
neither, a long trough made his next best cooler, the
water being changed once or twice before bed time.
This daily routine, except in winter, when four days
made a week's work, and the weather was his cooler,
made up the milkman's business life.

Since the large dealers began to gather milk in New
Hampshire, Vermont and the northern towns of this
State, transporting it by rail to Cambridge, Somer-
ville, Charlestown and Boston, the order of business
has greatly changed. The retailers have established
headquarters nearer the place of distribution, their
milk being furnished and delivered at the railway
stations by the large dealers or by paities engaged to
collect it from the farmers. One by one the milkmen
have removed from- Lexington. The milk product is
probably more, but the milk wagons driving from the
town number not one-fourth of those in use half a
century ago.

Of the families connected with the business in this
town, probably the Wellingtons outnumber all others.
Benjamin Wellington, the grandfather of Cornelius,
and others of our members, probably stands first. He
was succeeded by his son, Major Benj. Oliver Welling-
ton, and he by his son Winslow. Benj. Wellington's
farm, on Concord Turnpike, was lately owned by
Cornelius Wellington, and is now owned by Miss
Chase. A notable case is that of Nehemiah Welling-
ton, who was himself engaged in the business, together
with his six sons, Augustus, Timothy, Sullivan,

194 MILK BUSINESS AND MILK MEN.

Jonas Clark, Horatio and Joseph A., his two sons-in-
law Samuel Bridge and our respected fellow-member,
Emery A, Mulliken, and a grandson, Henry A, Wel-
lington; Walter Wellington, not of the same family,
though at one time owning and occupying the same
farm, was also a milkman. The Wellington farm on
Middle Street is now owned as a stock farm by Mr.
Payson. Jonas Bridge, among the earliest milkmen,
was succeeded by his son Samuel, and he by Galen
Allen. The Bridge farm on Middle Street is now
owned by Mr. Kendall, and known as Valley Field
Farm.

Phineas Lawrence and his sons, Sidney, William
H. and Leonard, were milkmen ; and Myron, son of
Sidney, is still in the business, owning a portion of
the ancestral farm.

Among the early names was that of Samuel Down-
ing, who occupied the place on Lowell Street, later
owned by Fiske, Putnam, Ex-Collector Beard, and
now by Whipple, of Young's Hotel and Parker House
fame. Mr. Downing was succeeded by our friend
Joseph F. Simonds, who sold to Moore, who, in turn,
was succeeded by Walter Wellington, a member of
this Society.

The Pierce family were long identified with the
milk business. Reuben Pierce, one of the earliest,
was succeeded by his son, Nathaniel, who, for fifty
consecutive years, drove daily to Boston, except on
Sundays ; and, in a life of nearly ninety years, only
once required the services of a physician. He was
succeeded by his son, Nathaniel, who continued in the

MILK BUSINESS AND MILK MEN. 1 95

business about twenty years. Daniel Pierce, a grand-
son of Reuben, was also a milkman. Daniel was
known as u Major' ' Pierce. How his title came I
have never been able to learn. He was a little man,
not over five feet, five or six in height, quick witted,
and u as prompt as a major," and this, perhaps, gave
him his title. Loring S. Pierce, of another family,
and his son, Geo. Loring Pierce, were also milkmen.

The Smith family have not been unknown to fame
in this business. Jacob Smith, who owned what is
now the Hunt place, was one of the largest producers
in his time, and was succeeded by his son, Isaac
Brooks Smith. Our late selectman, Webster Smith,
and the brothers Edward Everett and A. Bradford
Smith, and Levi Smith also followed it.

Samuel K. Houghton, Galen Allen, Oliver Munroe,
Nathan Underwood, Clinton Viles, and the Cutlers
are names associated with the milk business, and
many others who have left Lexington, or gone into
other occupations. Among the largest producers,
some of whom did not own retail routes, may be men-
tioned the Wellingtons, — Peter, Benjamin and Nehe-
miah, — Jonas Bridge, the Lawrences, Estabrook &
Blodgett, Graham Jewett, Humphrey Chadburn,
Bowen Tufts, Samuel K. Houghton, and John and
Jonas Gammell.

The milkmen of early days were highly respected,
and filled, at different times, nearly every office in the
town.

A love of fun and mischief seemed to be a charac-
teristic equipment or development of the business of

I96 MILK BUSINESS AND MILK MEN.

the milkman ; and the jokes and pranks played upon
their fellows were often amusing and sometimes
vexatious.

As a class they were liberal and always ready to
aid in any worthy charity. Their dancing parties —
which were continued down to about i860 — were
famous, and drew many from Boston and surrounding
towns.

The old time milkman, as he was, has passed; but
the milk of the Lexington farms still rates U A 1 " in
the market, and is the equal of the best.

WORK OF LEXINGTON WOMEN IN THE
WAR OF THE REBELLION.

Read by Miss Mary K. Hudson, January ii, 1898.

There is no need for me to recall, to-night, the out-
burst of patriotic feeling which followed the fall of
Sumpter, nor the promptness with which our young
men answered the President's call for troops. They
are things we can never forget. The stirring strains
of "America," "Star Spangled Banner," and "Glory,
Hallelujah, " are ringing in our ears again whenever
we think of those exciting days.

The story of woman's work during the war is not
so generally recognized. To rescue from entire
oblivion some incidents in that story shall be my pur-
pose to-night.

In 1861 the sewing circle, under some one of its
many pseudonyms, was still a recognized power in all
our country towns, and, under the name of " Ladies'
Circle," it formed an important factor in the life and
work of the First Parish of Lexington. The Baptist
Society was then very small, and Hancock Church
and the Church of Our Redeemer had not yet come
into being. The First Parish Sewing Circle was,
therefore, the centre for most of the philanthropic
work of our people ; and when the war opened, and
the first calls for relief came to our ears, it very
naturally became a nucleus round which our loyal

198 WORK OF LEXINGTON WOMEN IN

women rallied, and through which they sent their
first contributions to the armies in the field.

Through all those four years the Ladies' Circle
worked steadily on, and, as it was the first in the field
and never wearied in its activities, I shall give you
some brief account of its work and its methods before
turning to other and similar organizations which
sprang into being shortly after.

Of course, its first work was hurriedly and spasmod-
ically done. I well remember the headlong zeal with
which we all fell to scraping lint, and the slightly
injured feeling with which we presently learned that
the hospital surgeons begged us to desist and send
them the linen in its whole state. Very soon, how-
ever, under the admirable leadership of our president,
Mrs. Livermore, and an efficient corps of directors,
we settled down to steady and systematic work. We
met every Wednesday afternoon, except when some
call of special urgency brought us together still more
frequently. There were no vestries or parish kitchens
in those days, so we met, at two, in private parlors
(the large gathering usually overflowing into every
room in the house), worked till six, had tea, and re-
ceived our gentlemen friends in the evening, thus ad-
ding a pleasant social feature to our really serious
work.

The chief call upon us was for hospital supplies,
shirts, socks, etc., and to the manufacture of these we
devoted ourselves with unremitting energy. Morning,
noon and night our directors were busy cutting out
the various garments (frequently stitching the same

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 199

at home), and, at the Wednesday meeting, ready fin-
gers finished the articles thus begun. A room in the
president's house was given up to all the packing
boxes on which she could lay her hands ; and rarely
did a week go by without seeing at least one of those
boxes filled and on its way to the hospitals.

For some months the work was sent to the Sanitary
Commission, but, later, there was brought to our
notice a private hospital in Philadelphia, carried on
mainly by a Mrs. King in a large bronze factory
loaned for the purpose by a Mr. Baker. From that
time the most of the contributions of the Ladies'
Circle went to this institution.

In the crowded state of the army hospitals during
an active campaign or a sickly season, many cases of
longer standing were often removed to this and other
establishments farther from the scene of action. In-
valided soldiers going home on sick leave, exchanged
prisoners dragging themselves wearily back from.
Andersonville or Libby, here found a welcome and the
best of care, until, with returning health and strength,,
their tattered garments exchanged for warm and com-
fortable clothing, they were able to continue on their
homeward way.

Some of our number visited this hospital, and saw,
by chance, the opening of one of our own boxes, and
the distribution of its contents. The admirable man-
agement of the institution, and the warmly expressed
gratitude of those sick and wounded men, served as
added incentives to renewed and earnest work as long
as such work was needed.

200 WORK OF LEXINGTON WOMEN IN

I have vainly tried to find the reports of our board
of directors during those four busy years, from which
I could have learned the exact amount of work done
in the Ladies' Circle during the war. That for 1862
is the only one I have been able to secure. It may, I
think, be taken as a fair report of the other years, as
well. During this year (1862) I find that $279.15
were expended, and 2,788 articles sent to the hospi-
tals. Assuming, as we safely may, that the work of
the other years was equally good, we find an expend-
iture of $1,116.60, and an aggregate of 11,152 articles
sent to various destinations.

In this Ladies' Circle, the money we expended was
always raised by gifts or direct solicitation. When
the treasury was running low, the contribution box
went round on Sunday morning, and it never came
back empty. Sometimes at the Wednesday evening
meetings some dainty bit of china did similar duty
among our gentlemen guests, and then woe betide the
luckless man who had forgotten his pocket-book ! He
usually did penance for his negligence by promising
double the amount he would have been expected to
contribute. To his honor be it said, the promise thus
made was always scrupulously kept.

One small Parish Sewing Circle could not long keep
pace with the growing needs of our armies in the
field, and early in 1862, if I have the correct date, a
second society, the Lexington Soldiers' Aid Society,
was formed, quite independent of any church connec-
tion, and drawing its membership from a broader field
than it was possible for any parish organization to do.

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 201

Mrs. Charles Tidd was its efficient president, and no
farther proof is needed of its good and faithful work.

Not only our own village, but East Lexington,
North Lexington and Kite End, were all represented
in the company that gathered every week in the little
chambers over the old post-office, better known to-day
as the office of the late Dr. Saltmarsh.

Prominent among these busy women was the late
Mrs. Isaac Parker. Those of us who knew that ener-
getic lady can well understand how, thirty years ago,
there was no more active, devoted or indefatigable
worker. Fabulous stories are still told of the work
she accomplished. She sewed, she knit, she baked,
she brewed for the soldiers. She took an early morn-
ing drive to Waltham, purchased a side of leather,
drove back to Lexington and herself, alone and un-
aided, dragged that side of leather up those narrow
stairs, and laid it in triumph at the feet of the ladies
who were waiting to cut it into extra boot soles for
the soldiers.

The ladies of this society met in the morning and
worked till dark, with a mid-day intermission for
lunch ; and pleasant memories still live of those social
and informal hours, often enlivened by the reading of
some soldier's letter, or some stirring news from field
or hospital.

When this society was organized, a sum approach-
ing $400 was raised by personal solicitation ; and the
treasury was afterwards renewed by fairs, theatricals
and social parties. At one of these fairs the ladies
cleared the sum of $1,000 for their patriotic work.

204 WORK OF LEXINGTON WOMEN IN

It is impossible to sum up with exactness the com-
bined amount of work done and money raised by these
three organizations during the war, since I have no
report from the U. S. A., and, as I have said, only a
partial one from the Ladies' Circle ; but as nearly as
I am able to estimate from the statistics I have, and
carefully avoiding any over-estimate, I find that at
least 16,000 articles were forwarded to various hospi-
tals at an expenditure of #3,735.60. This estimate
does not include the innumerable articles privately
sent to personal friends and relatives in the service,
nor the large sums of money constantly contributed
in response to private calls. ,

While the attendance at the meetings of these
societies was usually large, the number of the home
workers was far larger, and the recorded work of those
laboring in an associated capacity gives no fair idea
of all that was accomplished in the town.

The boxes sent out by these societies resembled
veritable curiosity shops in the endless variety of
their contents. While bed-linen, hospital shirts and
woolen socks predominated, there were numberless
other articles made or donated by willing hands, such
as swathes, slings, green shades, collars, cravats, pin-
cushions, etc.

Old sheets and pillow cases were torn up and rolled
into bandages ; old linen washed and ironed and made
into small bundles ; little girls hemmed into handker-
chiefs old muslin dresses which had been cut into
squares for the purpose ; and one little band of child-
ren pieced up patch- work bed-quilts, on the white

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 205

stripes of which their names were indelibly inscribed.
Ladies baked brown bread and pots of beans, and
made jellies and preserves for the hospitals. Games
and puzzles and playing cards were sent to amuse the
convalescents, and magazines and illustrated papers
crowded the boxes to repletion.

Everywhere and at all times the soldiers and their
needs were first in the thoughts of our faithful women.
There came an urgent call for hospital cushions,
and when everything that could be spared in the
shape of a cushion had been sent, then, out of old let-
ters, snipped into infinitesimal pieces, numberless
pillows of various sizes and shapes were constructed,
toward which one minister generously contributed his
old sermons, with the modest hope that at last they
might benefit suffering humanity.

One year when the apple yield was unusually large,
and our generous farmers had given hundreds of bar-
rels for the hospitals, a suggestion came to us from
the Sanitary Commission that to the soldiers in the
field the dried fruit would prove an agreeable change
from the hard-tack and salt beef which, too often,
constituted their daily fare. A word to the eager
workers was sufficient, and immediately every woman
fell to work. Every nook and corner of our yards
blossomed out with tables, boards and box covers, on
which the carefully selected slices were drying in the
sun. One truthful woman always asserted that she
walked five miles that fall in tending and watching,
and protecting from certain showers, the apples she
was drying. We draped our clothes-horses and fes-

206 WORK OF LEXINGTON WOMEN IN

tooned our windows with strings of apples, as in my
childhood I have seen school-house windows hung
with chains of green leaves in honor of Examination
Day. Had we an hour of leisure, we took up our
apples to cut, as the young lady of to-day takes up
her fancy work. Our fingers grew black in the ser-
vice, but the color was an honorable badge, and we
gloried in the decoration. Sometimes our enthusiasm
extended to the masculine members of the family. I
remember one gray-haired man who set to work cut-
ting apples between services one Sunday, and went
to church that afternoon with bandaged hands, as a
result of his unwonted encounter with the apple-parer.

I dare not try to estimate the hundreds of pounds
of dried fruit we sent to the front, but I know the
amount was something fabulous.

But, while these minor calls received our prompt
attention, sewing and knitting formed our steady oc-
cupation during those four busy years. And here it
may be said that, while the sewing-machine hummed
steadily, the knitting needle flew faster still. Indeed,
we knit from morning till night. A knitting craze
seemed to sweep over the entire North. Our mascu-
line friends smiled derisively, and even the newspapers
cracked gentle jokes at our expense, and, in poor
paraphrase, implored that

" Those now knit who never knit before,
And those who always knit, now knit the more."

But neither masculine ridicule nor newspaper irony
could turn us from our cherished work. It was the
boast of many a young lady that she sent to the sol-

THE WAR OF 1HE REBELLION. 207

diers the first pair of stockings she ever knit in her
life. Some of us, in calmer and maturer years, have
sometimes wondered whether the unfortunate re-
cipient of our " 'prentice work" may not have inward-
ly prayed for salvation from his friends.

Thirty-five years ago the Sunday still retained much
of the sacredness which it seems now, unfortunately,
to have lost ; but, when the calls from the hospitals
grew urgent, even on Sunday the loyal women knit.
Why sewing should have been so much more sinful I
leave for the moralist to determine, but certain it is
that, while the sewing-machine was scrupulously
closed on that day, the click of the knitting-needle
was heard in numberless homes to which such sounds
were strangers. One dear old lady, in whose great
heart and loving sympathy even the rebels found a
place, consoled herself for her unwonted Sabbath
breaking by propping the New Testament open before
her as she worked, and, with tear-dimmed eyes, read-
ing, while her needles flew, " Inasmuch as ye did it
unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye did it
unto me."

Sometimes help came to us from unexpected quar-
ters. I call to mind an elderly man whose memory,
to-day, commands our unfailing respect and esteem,
but who, in those stirring days, had fallen under the
ban of feminine displeasure, for, alas ! he was a
Democrat ! That, perhaps, we might have pardoned,
but it was darkly whispered that he was the most
disreputable thing, — a peace-at-any-price Democrat,
and that offence no loyal woman could condone. But

208 WORK OF LEXINGTON WOMEN IN

just when our wrath was waxing hottest, a rumor
reached us that this wicked man was learning to knit,
and that when the evening shadows fell, and his busy
wife took up her ever-present knitting work, he, too,
drew near the fireside, and by the light of the same
small lamp, turned scrupulously low, he, too, was
shaping a pair of stockings, — we dared not guess for
whom ! But the question was speedily answered, for
when the next box went to the soldiers it bore a pair
of dark-blue socks of admirable workmanship and
monstrous size, marked in his own unmistakable
handwriting, " Knit by a Lexington Copperhead."
After that, we forgave him everything.

I think these were not the last socks he knit. We
will devoutly hope they were the biggest. In those
early days we seemed to guage our patriotism by the
size of our socks. As nothing was too much to do for
the soldiers, so no sock could be too large for a sol-
dier's foot, and as the war waxed fiercer, I think our
socks grew bigger and bigger ; and only the earnest
and pathetic remonstrances of those long-suffering
men finally convinced us that a man might be a
patriot and a hero without the bodily stature of a giant.

As nearly as I can learn, 1,500 pairs of socks and
276 pairs of mittens went to the soldiers through the
societies I have named, and numberless others through
private channels.

But, while in the vicinity of our comfortable homes
we were sewing and knitting for the soldiers, one
brave Lexington woman, in the midst of hardship and
privation, with little rest and scanty fare, was carry-

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 209

ing the ministrations of love and kindness to the bed-
side of the wounded and the dying. The work of
Mrs. Mary (Phinney) von Olnhausen is too well known
in Lexington to need any poor words of mine, but this
paper would be incomplete if it failed to recognize the
work she did, far exceeding all that we, in our asso-
ciated capacity, could ever hope to compass.

It is Lexington's regret that this lady must call
another old historic town her birthplace ; but here, in
Lexington, she grew up, and, to those who had
known her useful and unselfish life, it was hardly a
matter of surprise when, in 1862, she entered the
Goverment service as a hospital nurse. Enlisted for
the war, she was under Government orders till the
war was over, and served at Mansion House Hospital,
Alexandria, and at Morehead City, Beaufort and
Smithville, N. C, till the return of peace in 1865 re-
leased her from her arduous duties.

Mrs. von Olnhausen has kindly furnished me with
a few reminiscences of her life in the hospitals, which
have an added interest for us to-night, because they
bear directly upon the work of the Lexington Soldiers'
Aid Society and its generous contributions to her
wards.

" While at Alexandria," she says, " my stores
were every month sent me by a little society of ladies
in Lexington who devoted the most of their time to
the soldier's wants. I had been constantly receiving
comforts of all kinds for the sick and wounded in my
care from those kind friends at home. These I had
always kept in my room, and given them, when

2IO WORK OF LEXINGTON WOMEN IN

needed, to the sick in other wards, as well as to those
in my own."

It seems that the head surgeon, hearing that Mrs.
von Olnhausen was receiving these things, determined
to have them in the dispensary and subject to his or-
ders, and made a demand upon her to that effect.
The result of this demand is best told in her own
words. She says, " I told him that all I had came
to me from my personal friends in Lexington, and
sooner than have them given to his drunken dispen-
sary clerks to be eaten and drank and worn by them,
I would throw them out upon the pavement.

" Lexington came to be a very dear place to all I
cared for. I am sure many will remember the name
with gratitude quite apart from its sacred renown.
Sick men are like children : they enjoy comforts, and,
like them, are grateful. It was such a delight to
announce a box from Lexington, and the expectancy
of the men was so great. I always made a little feast
for their tea on such days.

"I ever took pains to identify myself with Lexing-
ton, and I cannot sufficiently thank that little band
of good women who gave me the opportunity to do so
much good. Their interest never flagged to the very
end of the war. Every month brought comforts from
them. A soldier never went from my ward, either to
his regiment or to his home, without comfortable
clothing, and often a little money to help him on his
journey. For this I take no credit. It was only
through those dear friends that I was able to do it."

Of her work among the wounded, Mrs. von Oln-

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 211

hausen says, " First getting the men comfortably in
bed, after the surgical operations were over, was such
a satisfactory thing ; the boys were so grateful and so
hungry, and one felt that one was really doing good.
I don't know a more delightful moment than when
you have fairly got a man settled in a clean, soft bed,
and then to have him look up and say, i That's
bully ! ' That word has such tender memories for
me that I can never think it coarse.

" Only during the last months did the Sanitary
Commission ever reach us at Morehead City. It was
impossible to get liquors or delicacies except those
that were sent me from Lexington. Those friends, I
am thankful to say, never failed me."

With characteristic modesty Mrs. von Olnhausen
praises the work of the women at home, but tells us
very little of her own ; but the record of her work is
written in the hearts of those to whom she ministered.
Wherever she went the love and blessing of the sick
and wounded followed her, and when, worn down by
fatigue and anxiety, she was herself stricken by the
same dread fever through which she had safely car-
ried them, the loving ministrations of those grateful
men brought her back to health and usefulness again.

She has served in German hospitals since then in
the heat of the Franco-Prussian War, and bears, with
honorable pride, the decoration of the Iron Cross from
the hand of the old Emperor William ; but it is as the
kind nurse and loving friend of our own boys in blue
that Lexington ever thinks of her, and that her name
ranks high in the list of Lexington's immortals.

212 WORK OF LEXINGTON WOMEN IN

Such, very imperfectly told, is the story of the
work of Lexington women in the War of the Rebellion
as I have gathered it from the reminiscences of some
of the workers. If I have seemed to treat it lightly
it is not because I am unmindful of the sad undertone
running through all those troubled years, — years
whose tragic intensity we who lived through them
can never forget, those who come after can never un-
derstand. They were years of toil, privation and
hardship. Care and anxiety were in all our homes,
and sorrow, an unbidden guest, sat often at our fire-
sides. Our volunteers were our relatives, our neigh-
bors and our friends, whose varying fortunes we
watched with an intense and painful personal anxiety.
They had sprung to arms with a promptness and a
patriotic self-devotion which must never be lost sight
of in these " piping times of peace." To the young
people of to-day the War of the Rebellion can only
be a stirring chapter in our nation's history. On us,
to whom it was a real experience, rests the great duty
of remembering all we owe to those heroic men
who fought for us the long battle for human rights
and national existence.

" We sit here, in the Promised Land,
That flows with Freedom's honey and milk ;

But 'twas they won it, sword in hand,
Making the nettle danger soft for us as silk."

But while men met the great shock of war with
manly bravery and courage, women bore their hum-
bler part with patient fidelity and heroism. When

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 213

reverses came to our armies in the field, bringing new
calls for volunteers to fill the shattered ranks, from
our brave men went back the quick response, ' ( We're
coming, Father Abraham, six hundred thousand
more ! " But, indeed, " A farewell group was stand-
ing by every cottage door." A group of sad-eyed,
loyal women, who, if they could not help, yet scorned
to hinder, and who, bidding a brave " God-speed " to
their dear ones, took patiently up the added load of
care and toil and sorrow.

In these more prosperous days, when $4,000 can be
had for the asking, to save and restore an old historic
house, it is difficult for our younger members to real-
ize all that was involved in the work we did and the
money we raised during those four hard and weary
years. Taxes were many and high, and constantly
growing; dividends were growing lower and lower,
until, too often, they disappeared forever ; flour was
$22 per barrel, and the other necessaries of life pro-
portionally high ; cotton cloth went up to fifty, sixty
and even, in some cases, seventy-five cents per yard.
The closest economy and self-denial were demanded
in homes where ease and plenty had always reigned
before. The worn gown did duty for another year.
The mended shoe received an added patch. The
threadbare coat was brushed and sponged and took on
a new lease of life, and from our dinner tables all
needless delicacies were rigidly excluded. The great
army of the unemployed clamored daily at our doors
for food and shelter, and never asked in vain. The
war had taken the bread-winner from many a home,

214 WORK OF LEXINGTON WOMEN.

and, in too many cases, he went never to return. The
mother looked at her helpless children, and toiled a
little harder, and economized a little more, that they
might be fed and clothed and sheltered from the
winter's cold.

But, through it all, no call of need from field or
hospital ever fell on unwilling ears. The rich gave
of their abundance and the poor of their little all, to
help pay, in what measure they might, the debt which
will never be extinguished while one needy veteran
asks in vain for recognition from the country he
helped to save.

In this great work Lexington claims no pre-
eminence. She but did what other towns were doing.
But she does claim that, to the limit of her ability,
she did her best, and that, as her brave sons promptly
responded to every call for men, so, in the great army
of loyal women, who loved their country and gave of
their best in her defence, the Lexington quota was
always full.

proceedings*

Special Meeting, January 14, 1890.

The historian made a report on the condition of the tomb-stone
of Rev. Benjamin Es tab rook, and called attention to the appear-
ance of the wooden tablets marking historical places in the town,
all requiring immediate attention.

Rev. B. G. Porter read extracts from letters of Jos. Barrell, a
Boston merchant, describing the situation of affairs in Massachu-
setts after the Battle of Lexington.

Mr. A. W. Bryant read a paper on " Lexington Main Street Sixty-
five Years ago, Its Industries and Dwellings/ 1

Regular Meeting, February ii, 1890.

The historian made a brief report.

A committee was appointed to arrange for the celebration of
April 19.

Mr. A. W. Bryant read the second part of his paper entitled
" Lexington Main Street Sixty-five Years ago, Its Industries and
Dwellings. "

Regular Meeting, March ii, 1890.

The following officers were elected : —

President, George W. Porter, D.D.

Vice-Presidents, Rev. E. G. Porter, Charles C. Goodwin, James
P. Munroe, Miss P. M. Robinson, Miss Clara W. Harrington.

Historian, Rev. C. A. Staples.

Corresponding Secretary, Albert S. Parsons.

Custodian, £. A. Mulliken.

Treasurer, L. A. Saville.

Recording Secretary, L. E. Bennink.

The custodian called attention to the need of more room in
which to store relics.

ii. PROCEEDINGS.

The historian made a brief report.

Papers read: "An Old Physician," the subject being Dr. Still-
man Spaulding, by Mr. Ralph B. Lane. "Gen. Charles Lee," by
Dr. R. M. Lawrence.

Regular Meeting, Aprii, 8, 1890.

A committee was appointed to prepare a Hand Book of Lexington.

Committee appointed to arrange for a visit to the Wyman place
in Billerica.

The following papers were read : —

"Historic Doubts Concerning the Battle of Lexington," by Rev.
C. A. Staples.

" Blias Phinney," bv Mr. James P. Munroe.

Regular Meeting, October 14, 1890.

The treasurer was directed to see that suitable tablets be placed
on the old tree in front of the Buckman Tavern and on the Grant
Elm.

Attention was called to the need of preserving the inscriptions
on the head stones and monuments in the old burying ground.

Rev. C. A. Staples read a paper on "Some Old Time School-
masters of Lexington."

Regular Meeting, December 9, 1890.
Mr. A. W. Bryant read a paper entitled " Military Organizations
in Lexington. 3

Regular Meeting, February 10, 1891.

The historian announced that Mr. James S. Munroe had pur-
chased the old belfry, now on the Parker place, and offered it to
the Society, if they would move it to the town and place it in some
prominent place.

A committee was appointed to have charge of the celebration of
the 19th of April.

Mr. H. A. Mulliken read the following paper : —

" Where were Hancock and Adams from the 18th to the 20th of
April, 1775 ? Honor to whom Honor is due."

PROCEEDINGS. iii.

Adjourned Meeting, March 12, 189 1.

A committee was appointed to superintend the removal of the
old belfry to such place as may be obtained for it in the village,
and to make all necessary repairs to restore it to its original
appearance.

Rev. B. G. Porter gave an account of a visit to Fairfield, Conn.

A committee was appointed to confer with the Treasurer of the
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in regard to a fund
subscribed by said company for a monument on Lexington
Common.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : —

President, Rev. George W. Porter, D.D.

Vice-Presidents, Rev. B. G. Porter, James P. Munroe, Alfred
Pierce, Mrs. Charles C. Goodwin, Mrs. George O. Davis.

Historian, Rev. C. A. Staples.

Corresponding Secretary, A. S. Parsons.

Custodian, Emory A. Mulliken.

Treasurer, Leonard A. Saville.

Recording Secretary, Leonard B* Bennink.

Mr. James P. Munroe read a paper on "Charles Follen."

Special Meeting, March 24, 1891
It was voted to place the old belfry on new school-house lot, and
reproduce it as near to the original as possible.

Regular Meeting, Aprii, 14, 1891.
Committee on " Guide Book " made report of progress.
Mr. A. Bradford Smith of Bast Lexington, read a paper entitled
"Kite Bud."

Special Meeting, May 12, 1891.

Rev. Jonas Bowen Clark loaned the Society two diaries of Rev.
Jonas Clark.

President Porter and Rev. B. G. Porter spoke of the kindly recep-
tion of committee visiting Danvers April 19.

A committee was chosen to make all necessary arrangements for
receiving the Danvers Historical Society on some day in June to be
decided upon.

A committee was appointed to arrange for a celebration of the

iv. PROCEEDINGS.

200th. Anniversary of the Incorporation of Cambridge Farms,
Dec. 15, 1891.

Mr. George O. Smith read a paper entitled " A Sketch of the
Early Life of Solomon Brown," written by his son, George W.
Brown.

Regular Meeting, October 13, 1891.

Rev. C. A. Staples, for committee, reported that the books and
papers of Rev. Jonas Clark had been examined and indexed.

The committee appointed to prepare a Hand Book of Lexington
reported the completion of the work and its cost.

Mrs. A. S. Parsons, for committee, made a pleasant report of the
recent visit of the Danvers Historical Society.

Special Meeting, November 24, 1891.

The historian gave an account of the visit of the Danvers Histori-
cal Society to Lexington.

Rev. C. A. Staples read a paper entitled " Lieut. John Munroe,
His Farm and His Family."

Regular Meeting, December 8, 1891.

The following papers were read . —

" The First Parish," by Rev. C. A. Staples.

"The Follen Church," by Mr. George O. Smith.

" The Church of Our Redeemer," by Rev. George W. Porter, D.D.

A paper on "The Baptist Church," written by Mrs. Helen
Hooper, was read by Rev. C. A. Staples, as was also a letter from
Rev. Fr. Kavanaugh, of St. Bridget's Church, giving a brief sketch
of that organization.

Rev. E. G. Porter gave a summary of the history of " Hancock
Church."

These papers were in commemoration of the 200th Anniversary
of the Incorporation of the First Parish.

Regular Meeting, February 9, 1892.
A committee was appointed to arrange for the celebration of
April 19th, and the treasurer was instructed to arrange for procur-
ing an appropriation from the town for the above purpose.

PROCEEDINGS. v.

Mr. B. Worthington of Dedham read a paper on "Madam
Knight's Journey to New York in iycV

A committee was appointed to take into consideration the ques-
tion of a suitable building for the use of the Society.

Adjourned Annual Meeting, March 16, 1892.

The annual reports were read and accepted.

The following officers were elected: —

President, Albert S. Parsons.

Vice-Presidents, Alfred Pierce, Rev. Irving Meredith, Nathan-
iel H. Merriam, M.D., Mrs. George O. Davis, Miss Amelia M.
Mulliken.

Historian, Rev. C. A. Staples.

Corresponding Secretary, James P. Munroe.

Custodian, Everett M. Mulliken.

Treasurer, Leonard A. Saville.

Recording Secretary, Leonard E. Bennink.

Mr. Ralph E. Lane read a paper entitled "Jonathan Fletcher of
Acton.' f

Regular Meeting, Aprii, 14, 1892.
Committee reported on site for a building for the Society.
Accepted and time extended.
Rev. C. A. Staples read a paper entitled " Samuel Dexter."

Regular Meeting, November 16, 1892.

The secretary moved and it was voted that the Council petition
the Legislature that the 19th of April be substituted, as a holiday,
in place of Past Day.

Rev. G. W. Cooke, read a paper on "The Study of History."

Regular Meeting, December 14, 1892.
A paper entitled "Kindred Interests of Country Towns" was
read by Mr. Abram English Brown, Town Historian of Bedford.

Regular Meeting, February 14, 1893.
A letter was read from the Society of the Sons of the American
Revolution, asking the town to co-operate in marking the graves of
Revolutionary soldiers with bronze tablets. Rev. C. A. Staples

vi. PROCEEDINGS.

was authorized to have an article inserted in the town warrant in
reference to this matter.

A"committee was appointed to arrange for the celebration of the
19th of April.

Rev. C. A. Staples read a paper on "Observations of English
Travel.

Regular Annual Meeting, March 14, 1893.

The annual reports were read and accepted.

The following officers were elected : —

President, Albert S. Parsons.

Vice-Presidents, Rev. G. W. Cooke, Rev. Irving Meredith, Dr. N.
H. Merriam, Miss A. M. Mulliken, Mrs. Alfred Pierce.

Historian, Rev. C. A. Staples.

Corresponding Secretary, James P. Munroe.

Custodian, Everett M. Mulliken.

Treasurer, Leonard A. Saville.

Recording Secretary, Leonard E. Bennink.

Rev. C. A. Staples read a short paper on "John Augustus. 1 '

Mr. George B. Bartlett of Concord, gave an interesting talk on
l% Old Concord Legends and Houses.' '

Regular Meeting, October 15, 1893.

The historian gave an account of one Prince Estabrook, a colored
soldier in the War of the Revolution.

Rev. G.' W. Cooke spoke on "Woman's Place in the History of
Civilization."

Regular Meeting, November 21, 1893.

Rev. C. A. Staples, for committee appointed to define the exact
location of the bones of the patriots who fell on the 19th of April,
said it is proved that they rest at the front of the monument, in-
stead of at the rear, as has been supposed.

The meeting authorized the committee to place a tablet giving
the correct information, instead of the one now located there.

A letter from Mr. A. S. Parsons was read, enclosing a check for
fifty-five dollars ($55.00), that being the amount realized at his
illustrative talk on the " World's Fair at Chicago."

The Society accepted the check with thanks.

A committee was appointed to arrange for a course of lectures on
historical subjects.

PROCEEDINGS. vii.

A committee was appointed to take the necessary steps to inter-
est the proper persons and societies in making the 19th of April a
legal holiday.

A committee was appointed to act as judges of the relative merits
of forty essays on the " Causes which Led to the American Revolu-
tion," written by pupils of the Boston Public Schools.

President Parsons gave an account of a visit to Washington's
headquarters at Newburg, N. Y., and described some historic ob-
jects at the World's Pair at Chicago.

Regular Meeting, December 12, 1893.

Held at "Stone Building " in East Lexington.

Rev. C. A. Staples reported that the error in the tablet in front
of the monument on the Common had been rectified.

Rev. C. A. Staples reported the judgment of the committee on
the merits of the historical essays of the pupils of Boston Public
Schools.

The following papers were read : —

"The Robbins Family, Dr. Pollen and the History of the
Stone Building," by Mr. A. Bradford Smith.

"Jonathan Harrington," by Mr. Alfred Pierce.

Special Meeting, December 18, 1893.

The president reported that the committee had arranged for a
course of five lectures on historical subjects.

The committee on obtaining a permanent home for the Society
reported, and some discussion followed.

Regular Meeting, March 12, 1894.
Annual reports were read and accepted.
The following officers were elected : —
President, Albert S. Parsons.

Vice-Presidents, Robert P. Clapp, A. Bradford Smith, Edward P.
Merriam, Miss Florence E. Whitcher, Mrs. J. F. Maynard.
Historian, Rev. C. A. Staples.
Custodian, Everett M. Mulliken.
Corresponding Secretary, James P. Munroe.
Treasurer, Leonard A. Saville.
Recording Secretary, Leonard E. Bennink.

viii. PROCEEDINGS.

It was moved and voted to extend an invitation to the Sons of the
American Revolution to hold their 19th of April meeting in Lex-
ington.

A committee was appointed to have charge of the 19th of April
celebration.

Rev. C. A. Staples read a paper written by Mr. Timothy K.
Piske, on the "History of the Piske House on East Street/ 1 built
in 1745, and once owned and occupied by Dr. Joseph Piske, a sur-
geon in the Revolutionary Army.

Adjourned Meeting, March 20, 1894.

Rev. C. A. Staples presented a list of names of Americans killed
on April 19, 1775, and a committee was appointed to rectify the list.

It was moved and ;voted that the Historical Society favors the
naming of the historic road upon which the British marched April
*9> I 775> Massachusetts Avenue.

Special Meeting, June 14* 1894

The president exhibited a copy of the act making the 19th of
April a legal holiday, and the pen (an eagle's quill) with which
Governor Greenhalge signed the act.

A committee was appointed to consider the question of a suitable
tablet to mark the building occupied by the first Normal School in
Massachusetts.

A committee was appointed to arrange, on behalf of the Histori-
cal Society, for the reception on August 1st of the Historical Pil-
grimage of the University Extension Society of the University of
Pennsylvania.

Hon. Charles H. Saunders, of Cambridge, read a paper entitled
"Christ Church, Cambridge. ,,

Regular Meeting, October 14, 1894.

A ccmmittee was appointed to draw up a record of the history of
the act making April 19th a legal holiday.

A committee was appointed to see what steps could be taken
toward preserving the Clark house.

Rev. C. A. Staples read a paper giving an account of Lafayette's
t ravels and reception in America.

PROCEEDINGS. ix.

Rev. Dr. Porter told of a visit to Madam Eustis, widow of
Governor Eustis, and read a letter to Governor Eustis from
Lafayette.

Mr. Amos Locke gave an account of the reception given Lafayette
by the school children in Lexington.

The Speech of Elias Phinney, receiving Lafayette in Lexington,
was also read.

Annual Meeting, March 20, 1895.

The following officers were elected : —

President, Robert P. Clapp.

Vice-Presidents, Albert S. Parsons, A. Bradford Smith, E. P.
Merriam, Miss Florence E. Whitcher, Mrs. J. F. Maynard.

Historian, Rev. C. A. Staples.

Corresponding Secretary, James P. Munroe.

Custodian, Everett M. Mulliken.

Treasurer, L. A. Saville.

Recording Secretary, L. E. Bennink.

A committee was appointed to investigate and report at the next
meeting on the desirability of holding a Field Day at the Indian
Battle Ground and Wayside Inn at Sudbury.

Mr. James P. Munroe read one act from an old play founded on
Lexington history and particularly relating to the battle.

Regular Meeting, Aprii, 9, 1895.

A committee was appointed to arrange for celebrating the 19th of
April.

A committee was appointed to receive the National Society of
Sons of the Revolution about April 30.

Rev. C. A. Staples read a paper entitled " First Year of King
Philip's War."

After reading of the paper it was suggested that an outing be
taken about June 17, to visit some of the localities described in
it.

Regular Meeting, October 15, 1895.
Rev. C. A. Staples read a paper on " The Fall of the Narra-
gansetts."

PROCEEDINGS.

Regular Meeting, January 14, 1896.

A letter was read from Mr. L. E. Bennink, presenting his resig-
nation as secretary of the Society.

A committee was appointed to report the advisability of haying
the early records of the town printed.

Mr. M. J. Canavan read a paper on " Lexington in the Seventeenth
Century," with some account of early New England life and
manners.

Regular Meeting, February ii, 1896.
• In Hancock Hall.

The committee appointed for the purpose reported resolutions
expressing the regret of the Society at the resignation of Mr. L. E.
Bennink as secretary.

The following papers were read : —

" Early Schools and School Masters," Rev. C. A. Staples.

" Recollections of School Days in the North District,* ' Mr. Joseph
F. Simonds.

"A District School in Lexington Half a Century Ago," Miss C.
F. Mclntyre.

" Demands upon the Schools of To-day," Mr. E. P. Nichols.

"The Cost of Schooling," Mr. Mark S. W. Jefferson.

Musical selections were given by pupils from the schools, under
direction of Mrs. H. E. Holt.

Annual Meeting, March 10, 1896.

Annual reports read and accepted.

Committee on Guide Book made report.

The following officers were elected : —

President, Robert P. Clapp.

Vice-Presidents, A. S. Parsons, Rev. George W. Cooke, Irving P.
Fox, Mrs. Hannah M. Greeley, Mrs. E. P. Bliss.

Historian, Rev. C. A. Staples.

Corresponding Secretary, James P. Munroe.

Custodian, H. G. Locke.

Treasurer, Leonard A. Saville.

Recording Secretary, George O. Smith.

Mr. G. O. Smith read a paper entitled "Reminiscences of a
Former Industry of Lexington and Something of Its Projectors."

A committee was appointed to investigate the matter of saving
the Hancock-Clark House from demolition and report at an early
meeting.

PROCEEDINGS, xi.

Regular Meeting, October 13, 1896.
Mr. Anson Titus of College Hill, Somerville, read a paper
entitled, " The Days of the New England Primer : a Study of
Colonial Life before the Re volution.* '

Special Meeting, October 24, 1896.

Mr. A. B. Scott, for the committee appointed to take action on
saving the Hancock-Clark House, reported that the building had
been purchased by a member of the committee, and the committee
were now considering the matter of a site to which the house could
be moved.

The meeting voted unanimously in favor of retaining the house
on Hancock Street.

It was voted that a subscription be opened at this meeting and
that a committee of fifteen ladies be appointed to solicit further
subscriptions.

Special Meeting, November 5, 1896.
A committee was appointed to represent the Society at the un-
veiling of a memorial to Colonel Isaac Hutchinson at Danvers.

Regular Meeting, December 8, 1896.

President Clapp gave a pleasant account of the memorial services
recently held by the Danvers Historical Society.

Mr. Clapp read a paper by Mr. M. J. Canavan, entitled "Life
and Manners of the Eighteenth Century.' '

Mr. Clapp, for Committee on preserving the early Town Records,
reported that the work was already begun in a careful and satis-
factory manner.

Special Meeting, January 20, 1897.

Mr. Cornelius Wellington reported that the stone marking the
place of the capture of his ancestor, Benjamin Wellington, the
first prisoner taken in Lexington, April 19, 1775, had been put in
position. This stone was presented by Mr. Henry Wellington of
Newton, a grandson of Benjamin Wellington.

Rev. C. A. Staples, for Committee on the preservation of the
Hancock House, read a letter from Mrs. Helen L. Ware Green,
offering to present the house to the Society.

Mr. Staples explained the manner of purchase and the expendi-

xii. PROCEEDINGS.

tares, to the present time, adding that much interest in the matter
was felt outside the town, and giving a list of non-resident con-
tributors.

The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution approving the
Treaty of Arbitration recently concluded at Washington, and
urging the senators from Massachusetts to use their efforts for its
ratification.

Regular Meeting, February 9, 1897.

A committee was appointed to arrange for a celebration of the
19th of April.

A paper written by Mr. M. J. Canavan was read, entitled " An
Account of the Raymond Family and the Raymond Tavern. "

Annual Meeting, March 9, 1897.

Annual reports were read and accepted.

The following officers were elected : —

President, James P. Munroe.

Vice-Presidents, Rev. George W. Cooke, George O. Whiting,
A. Bradford Smith, Miss Mary E. Hudson, Frank C. Childs.

Corresponding Secretary, George O. Smith.

Historian, Rev. C. A. Staples.

Custodian, Herbert G. Locke.

Treasurer, Leonard A Saville.

Recording Secretary, Irving P. Fox.

Rev. C. A. Staples, read a paper written by Miss Sarah Chandler,
entitled "Reminiscences of the Hancock House."

The Committee on the Hancock-Clark house was authorized to
complete the restoration of the house, drawing on the treasurer to
the extent of $500.

Regular Meeting, April 13, 1897.
Rev. Mr. Staples, for Committee on the Hancock-Clark House,

made a report of progress.
A committee was appointed to review the papers read before the

Society since the publication of Vol. I. of the Proceedings, and

select such as may be appropriate for publication in Vol. II.
Mr. George O. Smith read the following paper : —
"The Milk Business and Milkmen of Earlier Days in Lexington."
Mr. Samuel C. Prescott, S.B., of the Massachusetts Institute of

Technology, gave an interesting and instructive talk on "The

Modern Milk Supply of Greater Boston.' '

PROCEEDINGS. xiii.

Regular Meeting, October 12, 1897.

Held in the Hancock-Clark House.

Rev. C. A. Staples gave a history of the movement which had
resulted in the saving and restoring of the Hancock-Clark House,
and briefly referred to the many memorable events with which the
house had been closely associated.

Personal reminiscences of the house and its old time occupants
were given by Mr. Amos Locke, Mr. James S. Munroe, Miss. E.
W. Harrington and Mr. George O. Davis.

A committee was appointed to have sole charge of furnishing the
house and of transferring the relics belonging to the Society from
the Town Hall if desirable.

The resignation of Custodian H. G. Locke was read and accepted
and Mr. Everett M. Mulliken was elected to fill the unexpired
term.

Regular Meeting January ii, 1898

Postponed from Dec. 14, 1897.

Rev. C. A. Staples reported that most of the relics belonging
to the Society had been transferred to the Hancock-Clark House.

Miss Mary E. Hudson read a paper entitled "The Work of Lex-
ington Women in the War of the Rebellion."

Regular Meeting, February 14, 1898.

Mr. Prank B. Sanborn delivered an address on Theodore Parker.

A committee of three was appointed to co-operate with a similar
committee of the local Chapter D. A. R. in arranging for a recep-
tion or tea at the Hancock-Clark House on February 22.

Annual Meeting, March 8, 1898.

Mr. Edwin D. Mead gave an address on " Lessons from the Old
South Meeting House."

The following officers were elected : —

President, Edward P. Nichols.

Vice-Presidents, George O. Whiting, Charles G. Kauffman
Frank C. Childs, Miss M. E. Hudson, Miss M. Alice Munroe.

Corresponding Secretary, George O. Smith.

Treasurer, Leonard A. Saville.

Historian, Rev. C. A. Staples.

Custodian, Everett M. Mulliken.

xiv. PROCEEDINGS.

Recording Secretary, Irving P. Fox.

A committee was appointed to have charge of the celebration o
tht 19th of April.
The Committee on Publication made a report of progress.

Regular Meeting, Aprii, 12, 1898.
Mr. James P. Munroe read a paper on " The Munroe Clan."
A committee was appointed to search for the graves of the Brit-
ish soldiers in Lexington and report to the Society.

Special Meeting, May 10,1898.

In Hancock-Clark House.

Mr. Charles A. Wellington gave an account of the methods fol-
lowed in reproducing the wall paper that had been placed on the
walls of the lower left hand room, and showed a large section of
boarding that had been cut from the wall in the lower right hand
room, on which were revealed several feet of the paper which had
originally covered the walls of that room.

Regular Meeting, October ii, 1898.
The following paper was read by Rev. C. A. Staples : —
"The Battle of Lexington in England," telling of the fine and
imprisonment suffered by our fearless friend John Home Tooke
for his words in defence of the Americans at the Battle of Lex-
ington.

A committee was appointed to prepare a framed tablet bearing
the name of John Home Tooke, with a suitable inscription, to be
hung in the Society's building.

Regular Meeting, December 13, 1898.
Dr. N. H. Merriam recited " Hannah the Quakeress."
Mr. George Y. Wellington, of Arlington, read a paper upon the

"Lexington and West Cambridge Railroad and the changes it

wrought.' '

Postponed Regular Meeting, February 21, 1899.
In Unitarian Church.

Rev. Charles F. Carter read the following paper : —
" A Study in the Philosophy of History."

PROCEEDINGS. xv.

Annual Meeting, March 14, 1899.

The historian reported that 1,193 visitors to the Hancock-Clark
House had signed the register, and that $100.45 had been deposited
in the contribution box since it was put in place, April 19, 1898.

The other annual reports were read and accepted.

The Rev. Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, for the committee, presented a set of
resolutions on the death of Rev. George W. Porter, D.D., for two
years president of the Society.

The following officers were elected : —

President, Edward P. Nichols.

Vice-Presidents, George O. Whiting, Charles G. Kauffman, Frank
C. Childs, Miss Mary E. Hudson, Miss M. Alice Munroe.

Corresponding Secretary, George O. Smith.

Treasurer, L. A. Saville.

Historian, Rev. C. A. Staples.

Custodian, Everett M. Mulliken.

Recording Secretary, Irving P. Fox.

A committee was chosen to have charge of the celebration of the
19th of April.

Mr. E. P. Bliss read a paper entitled "Old Kitchens and
Cooking."

Regular Meeting, April 14, 1899.
Miss Mary E. Hudson, read a paper entitled " Old Boston (Eng-
land) and John Cotton."

Regular Meeting, October 10, 1899.
In chapel of Hancock Church.

Mr. James P. Munroe read a paper on " A Study of a Mob : The
Burning of the Ursuline Convent, Charlestown, August, 1834."

Special Meeting, November 15, 1899.
Committee on Hancock-Clark House made report of progress.
Publication Committee made report.

xvi. PROCEEDINGS.

GIFTS.

Memoir of American patriots who fell at the Battle of Bunker
Hill ; from William Power Wilson.

Funeral music for the 22d of February, published according to
Act of Congress ; from Mrs. Edward Tyler.

Fac-simile of Commission of Washington, from the American
Congress ; from Rev. E. G. Porter.

Last chair made by Jonathan Harrington, when 79 years of age,
and presented by him to Miss Mary Ann Robinson ; from M. Syl-
vester Harrington.

Record of the births, marriages and deaths from Dedham Town
Clerk's Records 1635-1845.

Records of baptisms, marriages and deaths from Dedham Church
Records, and cemetery inscriptions; from Dedham Historical
Society.

History of Lawrence family; from Dr. R. M. Lawrence.

Records of the " Lexington Rifle Rangers;" from Mrs. Charlotte
Gleason.

Proceedings of the two hundredth anniversary of Dedham, Sept.
2i 9 1886.

Commemorative services of the two hundredth anniversary of
First Church in Dedham, Nov. 18, 1886.

History of equestrian statue of General Putnam ; from the Com-
mittee of Brooklyn, Conn.

Extracts relating to the American Navy, by Nicholas Broughton.

Fac-simile of Boston News Letter^ the first paper printed in
America ; from Dr. Samuel A. Green.

Vol. I. of Publications of Kansas Historical Society.

Constitution, etc., of Sons of the Revolution ; from Rev. James
Mortimer Montgomery.

Proceedings of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, for 1889.

Tax collector's receipt for 1 790-1800; from Rev. C. A. Staples.

Resolves passed at a a Meeting of the Livery of London," in
Common Hall, assembled July 4, 1775; from Rev. E. G. Porter.

Sketches of Swampscott ; from Waldo Thompson.

War envelopes.

PROCEEDINGS. xvii.

Photographs taken during Lexington Centennial; from Mr.
George O. Smith.

Collections of the Old Colony Historical Society, Vol III.

Bulletin of Boston Public Library for October, 1890 ; from Hon.
A. E. Scott.

Topographical and Historical Description of Boston, by Nathaniel
Bradstreet ; from Wm. Power Wilson.

An Astronomical and Geographical Catechism for the use of
children, by Caleb Brigham, A.M., the thirteenth edition.

New England Psalter or Psalms of David with the Proverbs of
Solomon and Christ's Sermon on the Mount. Date, 1774.

Worcester Town Records, 1 795-1 800; from Worcester Society of
Antiquity.

China cup formerly belonging to Gov. William Bradford of Ply-
mouth Colony ; from Rev. E. G. Porter.

Iron loggerhead.

Summary, historical and political, of the settlements in America ;
from Miss Caroline Fessenden.

Reports of the custody and condition of the Public Records of
Parishes, Towns and Counties.

Reproduction of record of marriage of John Hancock and Doro-
thy Quincy ; from Rev. E. G. Porter.

Year Book of societies of descendants of the Revolution; from
Wm. Leonard Webb.

Spanish coin of 1751 ; from Mr. Jeremiah Callahan.

Tassel from the pulpit trimmings of the church of the first
Congregational Society in Lexington, built in 1794.

Buttons from the military coat of Nathan Harrington, captain of
Lexington Artillery Company.

Old deeds and lease from Anna Munroe to Daniel Harring-
ton, 1773.

Lease of Nathan Harrington to Nathan Harrington, Jr., 1830.

Appointment of James Brown as captain of a company of militia,
by Governor Hancock, 1785.

Pine tree shilling, paper currency, issued by the State of Massa-
chusetts in 1778.

An account of the presenting of a standard to the Lexington
Artillery Company, by Sally Mead; all from Miss Elizabeth W.
Harrington.

Frame containing a piece of wall paper from the room in which

xviii. PROCEEDINGS.

Hancock and Adams spent part of the night of April 18, 1775; re-
moved in 1875 ; from Mrs. Warren Daren.

Report of committee appointed by Governor Russell to inquire
into the authenticity of the bust in Doric Hall, State House, Boston,
marked Samuel Adams.

Gavel made from sill of old belfry ; from Dr. J. O. Tilton.

Call of Rev. Jonas Clark from the town of Lexington to settle
there as minister, together with his acceptance of the same.

Old picture of Lexington Common.

Letters from Jonas Clark to his parents and sister.

Various proclamations by the governors of Massachusetts Bay
Province.

Charge, by Rev. Jonas Clark of Lexington, at the ordination of
Nathan Underwood to the ministry.

Various pamphlets, all from Rev. Jonas Bowen Clark.

Soldiers' Field ; by Henry Lee Higginson.

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Com-
mandery of the State of Massachusetts. In Memoriam Companion
Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, U. S. A.

A Lexington souvenir spoon ; from John R. Comley.

Portrait of Hon. Francis B. Hayes.

Cane made from wood and metal of U. S. Man of War " Kearsarge ; "
from Mrs. Louis E. Crone.

Worcester Town Records, 1801-1848.

Constitution of the general Society of the Sons of the Revolution.

Constitution and By-Laws of the Society of the Sons of the Revo-
lution for the State of New York.

Membership Roll of the New York Society of Sons of the Revo-
lution, 1 891 ; all from James Mortimer Montgomery.

Souvenir Lexington Democratic Club of New York.

" Salem, Past and Present."

Muster Roll of the Lexington Rifle Company, 1823, Capt. Samuel
Chandler.

Boston Patriot, 1813-14-15 ; from the Misses Fiske of East
Lexington.

Picture of Follen Church, East Lexington; from Mrs Alfred
Pierce.

A box containing the following : —

1. An ancient picture of John Milton.

2. Record Book of the Farmers 1 Library, 1855.

PROCEEDINGS. xix.

3. List of articles sent to Lexington soldiers in the War of the
Rebellion.

4. Trial of Sheriff Moses Adams of Hancock County, Me., for the
murder of his wife, 1815.

5. Centennial Discourse of Rev. Avery Williams at Lexington,
March 31, 1813.

6. A correct account of the Battle of Alexandria, with a sketch of
the campaign in Egypt, by Rev. Ker Porter, 1804.

7. A sermon delivered in Lexington, April 28, 1819, at the ordi-
nation of Rev. Chas. Briggs, by Edward Richmond, D.D.

8. The conduct of Washington, compared with that of the pre-
sent administration, by a friend of Truth and of Honorable
Peace, 1813.

9. " History of the War in America," an English work.

10. A sermon preached at Lexington before various lodges of
Free and Accepted Masons, by Thomas Reed, pastor of the church
in Wilton, N. H., June 24, 1803.

11. Dr. Cod man's sermon at the funeral of Rev. Samuel Gile,
D.D., of Wilton, 1836.

12. A sermon preached before the Union Lodge in Dorchester,
June 24, 1807, by Rev. Thaddeus Mason.

13. A plain and serious address to the master of a family, by
Philip Doddridge, 1802.

14. A sermon preached at the ordination of Rev. Avery Williams
to the pastoral care of the church in Lexington, Dec. 30, 1807, by
Rev. Dr. Kendal.

15. An oration delivered at Concord, April 19, 1825, by Edward
Everett.

16. An oration delivered at Lexington, July 4, 1825, by Rev. Caleb
Stetson. All from Mrs. C. C. Goodwin.

A watch taken from a British soldier at Lexington in 1775 ; from
Francis Locke.

Monograph of John Hancock ; from H. G. Locke.

Framed fac-simile of the ordinance of secession of the State of
South Carolina ; from Mr. M. H. Merriam.

Constitution of the Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
and By-Laws and Register of the New York Society, 1892.

North American Almanack and gentleman's and lady's diary
for the year of our Lord Christ 1776 ; from D. M. Easton, Weymouth
Centre, Mass.

PROCEEDINGS.

Nos. i, 2 Vol. II. Hyde Park Historical Record ; from Hyde Park
Historical Society.

"The Museums of the Future,' ' by G. Brown Goode; from Smith-
sonian Institution.

Strip of board from the first parsonage of the Salem Village (now
Danvers First) Parish ; from Charles B. Rice, Danvers.

Portrait of Theodore Parker ; from Cornelius Wellington.

Confederate money, $110.00. Arkansas State Bonds, $63.00. A
manuscript letter addressed to Governor Hancock, July 8, 1791 ;
from Mrs. G. Mears.

Receipts for pews in old church built in 1794, with plan of the
interior, showing each person's pew ; from Mrs. Lucy K. Damon.

A narrative of "A Tour Through College," by Marshall Tufts.
Published in Lexington in 1833.

Facsimile copies of letters and deeds of William and Hannah
Penn ; from Mrs. Edward Tyler.

China plate decorated with painting of the monument on the
Common at Lexington ; from Ladies 7 Unitarian Association, Pea-
body, Mass.

" Three April Days ; " from Alfred Roe, Worcester, Mass.

Carved tablet for the old belfry ; from Mr. George O. Whiting.

Catalogue of the collections of the Bostonian Society in the
Memorial Halls of the old State House, Boston, Feb. 1, 1893, by
Samuel Arthur Bent, clerk of the Society.

Eighth annual Report of the Ohio Archaeological and Historical
Society, 1892.

Pewter platter, over 100 years old, once belonging to family of
Governor Langdon, of Portsmouth, N. H., from G. W. Porter, D.D.

Programme and invitation cards of the two hundred and fiftieth
anniversary of the Incorporation of Woburn; from Rev. E. G.
Porter.

From Henry O'Meara, Esq. ; copy of poem composed by him for
the 19th of April celebration, together with his portrait.

An old fashioned reel ; from Mrs. Charlotte Gleason.

The Independent Chronicle and Universal Advertiser of July 3,
1773; from Mrs. William H. Smith.

"The Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven," date, 1601 ; from Mrs. I.
N. Damon.

" Old Anti-Slavery Days ; " from Danvers Historical Society.

PROCEEDINGS. xxi.

Year Book of the Society of Sons of the American Revolution in
the State of New York ; from the Society.

Boston Transcript for Sept. 27, 1881, containing a full account of
the assassination of President Garfield; from Rev. G. W. Porter, D.D.

" A New Version of the Psalms of David fitted to the tunes used
in churches, etc." Date, 1765.

Sacred poetry, consisting of psalms and hymns, adapted to Chris-
tian devotion in public and private. Date, 1808 ; from Miss E. W.
Stetson.

Catalogue of officers and students of Lexington Academy, July,
1823; from Miss E. W. Stetson.

Typewritten copy of letter of General Warren to Committee on
Correspondence for the Colony of Connecticut, dated April 23, 1775 ;
from Mr. Williams, of Hartford, Conn.

Copy of act making the 19th of April a legal holiday ; from Mr.
H. G. Locke.

" George Bancroft and his services to California," a memorial ad-
dress delivered May 12, 1891 before the California Historical So-
ciety, by Theo. H. Hittell ; from the California Society.

"Lexington," with other fugitive poems, dated 1830; from Maria
W. Dupery, Rochester, N. Y.

The American Historical Register.

Newport Mercury, 1760.

Lottery tieket, date about 1770; from Rev. C. A. Staples.

Cannon ball recently found in Boston Common ; from J. Edwin
Jones.

From Mrs. Sarah Bowman Van Ness : —

1. A deed from Wm. Munroe, dated 1728, and witnessed by John
Hancock and Ebenezer Hancock.

2. A deed from Joseph Bemis, of Cambridge.

3. Bond given by Isaac Bowman, Theo. Moore and Stephen Pal-
mer for 50^*, dated 1741.

4. Marriage form used in Lexington many years ago.

Framed photograph of Hon. Charles Hudson ; from Miss Mary E.
Hudson.

Historical Proceedings of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Asso-
ciation, Vol. I. ; from Mr. George Sheldon.

Verses relating to the Revolutionary War, dated, 1777 ; from Mr.
Eli Simonds, of Bedford.

xxii. PROCEEDINGS.

A photograph of the oldest stone in the old cemetery ; from Miss
Elizabeth T. Thornton.

Vol. I. of "Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War ;" from
the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Index to genealogies and pedigrees in the N. E. Hist, and Gen.
Register for fifty years from January, 1847 to October, 1896 ; from
N. E. Hist, and Gen. Society.

"Worcester Births, Marriages and Deaths," compiled by F. P.
Rice. Part III. " Deaths; " from Worcester Society of Antiquity.

"Gov. Edward Winslow, his part and place in Plymouth County, "
from Rev. Wm. Copley Winslow.

Order of services at the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of
the Battle of Lexington, April 19, 1835 ; from Miss MaryE. Hudson.

" Memorial in Commemoration of the Life and Services of
Frederick T. Greenhalge, late Governor of the Commonwealth, 1 '
printed by order of General Court.

A list of prices charged for surgical operations in the early
years of the century ; from Mrs. Howland Holmes.

"The Fifty-seventh Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers;"
from the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

An old time kitchen and an old time bread toaster ; from Mr. A.
Bradford Smith.

Twenty pairs of shutters formerly belonging to the Hancock-
Clark House ; from Mr. A. S. Mitchell.

Sermon of Rev. Jonas Clark, first preached in 1761 ; from Rev.
Robert Collyer.

Small silver spoon, with tag bearing the following inscription :
" Given by Betsy, daughter of Parson Jonas Clark, to Isannah Har-
rington on her marriage with Capt. Timothy Page, of Bedford,
Jan. 11, 1801 ; " from Miss Mary Jenks, of Bedford.

A print of old powder horns ; from Rev. C. A. Staples.

"Index of the Publications of Societies," by R. R. Bowker.

A book of sermons, by Jonas Clark ; from I*. W. Muzzey.

Catalogue of pupils of Lexington Centre District School in
December, 1833 ; from Abram English Brown, of Bedford.

Letters addressed to Thomas Hancock, at Boston, by Rev. Jonas
Clark, December, 1756 ; from Miss E. L. H. Wood, of Brookline.

Address in Commemoration of the Lexington Battle, delivered
by William Emmons, April 19, 1826 ; from Rev. C. A. Staples.

PROCEEDINGS. xxiii.

Shovel and tongs, formerly used in the Hancock-Clark House;
from Mr. David W. Muzzey.

Report of the trial, before a London jury, in July, 1775, of a man
who had dared publicly to justify the action of the Minute Men at
Lexington on April 19th, of that year ; from Rev. C. A. Staples.

Two brackets, formerly over the front door way of the Hancock
Mansion in Boston, built in 1737 ; from Hon. Wm. A. Saunders.

Official Army Register of the forces of the U. S. Army during
1861-1863. Part I., New England States ; from Gen. A. W. Greeley,
War Department, Washington.

The door of pew No. 5 from the the Old South Meeting House,
Boston ; from Mr. A. P. Hanscom.

Andirons formerly belonging to the Hancock-Clark House ; from
Hannah Goddard Chapter D. A. R.

A tea caddy ; from Rev. G. W. Porter, D.D.

A list of pupils in the Bast Lexington School in 1834, when
taught by Mr. Charles Tidd ; from Miss Gertrude Pierce.

Illustrated volume upon General Grant ; from Mr. W. D. Allen.

Three antique chairs ; from the Misses Robinson.

Framed photograph of the old Sewall House in Burlington, Mass.,
burned in 1897 ; and

Framed photograph of dining-room of same house; from Mr.
Leonard Thompson, Woburn.

A cane, made from the frigate " Constitution,' ' originally given by
Com. John B. Montgomery to Thomas F. Holden ; from Mrs. F.
A. Tyler.

A lady's chain formerly belonging to one of her ancestors ; from
Miss Lucy Blodgett.

Wrought iron bread toaster, formerly used in the old Stephen
Robbins house, in Bast Lexington ; from Mr. A. Bradford Smith.

A peat cutter, formerly used in the great meadows in Lexington ;
from Mrs. Harrison Pierce.

Pistols and housings of horse, both formerly belonging to Gov.
Joseph Dudley, and overshoes worn by Mrs. Dudley; from Mrs.
Mary Brigham.

A cane formerly belonging to her grandfather, Oliver Holden,
composer of " Creation ; " from Mrs. F. A. Tyler.

Deed, dated 1700, with the autograph initials of J. H. (John Han-
cock) ; from John Abram English Brown.

A leaf from a history of New York, bearing a picture of Mr. and

xxiv. PROCEEDINGS.

Mrs. John P. Putnam (the former a grandson of Gen. Israel
Putnam) and a reference to the Pitcairn pistols as belonging to Gen-
eral Putnam ; also a facsimile of the parole of Burgoyne's army ;
from Major Loring W. Muzzey.

Volume entitled " Body of Divinity," by Samuel Willard, pastor
of the Old South Meeting House, and once president of Harvard
College ; from Mrs. Mary Brigham.

Receipt for rent, signed by agent of Governor Hancock ; from A.
W. Robinson, Dorchester.

Address on the occasion of the funeral of Jonathan Harrington ;
from Mr. George Y. Wellington.

Copy made from the Old Farmers' Almanac of an account of the
commencement of hostilities between Great Britain and the Ameri-
cans in the Province of Massachusetts, by Rev. William Gordon, of
Roxbury ; from Dr. I. W. Lym, of Englewood, N. J.

Volume of lectures delivered at Park Street Church, and a " Life
of Col. James Parker;' 1 from Miss Sarah Chandler.

Manuscript of paper on " The Opening of Lexington and West
Cambridge Railroad and the Changes it Wrought;" from Mr
George Y. Wellington, of Arlington

Report of the Secretary and Treasurer of the Lexington Branch
of the Women's Volunteer Aid Society.

Warrant, dated 1736, to attach certain property in Lexington, to
satisfy a debt of forty shillings.

List printed in 1763 of persons liable for a highway tax, with the
amounts due from each. Both from Mrs. C. H. Topliff of Cam-
bridgeport.

A poem descriptive of the old Hancock-Clark House, written
between 1800 and 1805, by one who used to visit there ; from Miss
Lucy C. Powers of Lansingburg, N. Y., a great granddaughter of
Rev. Jonas Clark.

" Records of the Proprietors of Cambridge ;" from Mr. George O.
Smith.

A round table formerly used in the Hancock-Clark House ; from
Mr. L. A. Saville.

" Massachusetts Bay Currency," 1 690-1 750; from the author, Mr.
Andrew McFarland Davis.

" How Far the Public High School is a Just Charge upon the

PROCEEDINGS.

Public Treasury ; " from the author, Mr. Prank A Hill, Secretary
State Board of Education.

List of scholars of the West School in 1814; from Rev. C. A.
Staples.

Two Yankee bakers and one summer baker in use about 1840 ;
one peat fork used in the great meadows; two pictures called
" Spirit of '76," and " Marion and the British Officer; " a small iron
pot ; all from Mr. G. O. Smith.

Pamphlets and documents, dated 1762 ; from D. W. Muzzey.

Cup and saucer brought over in the "Mayflower" by John
Alden ; a souvenir anvil made from wood of the Washington Elm
and Longfellow Chestnut at Cambridge ; cup, made about 1500, and
taken from the Doge's Palace in Venice ; from Dr. W. O. Perkins.

Hand embroidered rug ; from Miss Elizabeth Pierce.

HONORARY MEMBERS.

Brown, G. Washington (deceased) Ellis, Geo. E., Rev. D.D.(deceased)
Clark, Miss Grace. Putnam, A. P., Rev. D. D.

Clark, Jonas B., Rev. (deceased). Staples, Rev. Charles J.

Winthrop, Robert C. (deceased).

MEMBERS.

Bayley, Mr. & Mrs. E. A.

Bennink, Mr. & Mrs. Leonard E.

Bigelow, Jonathan.

Blinn, Miss Helen J.

Bliss, Mr. & Mrs. Edward P.

Brown, Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin F.

Brown, Mr. & Mrs. Frank D.

Bryant, Mr. & Mrs. Albert W.

Buck, Mr. & Mrs. J. I.

Butler, William A.

Butters, Mrs. Frank V.

Butters, Miss S. Louise.

Carter, Rev. & Mrs. Charles F.

Cary, Miss Alice B.

Childs, Mr. & Mrs. Frank C.

Clapp, Mr. & Mrs. Robert P.

Clarke, Dr. A. S.

Clarke, Miss Marie.

Cochran, Rev. & Mrs. L. D.

Colman, Mrs. Isabella L.

Cook, Miss Mabel Priscilla.

Cox, Rev. J. H.

Cutler, Alfred D.

Dale, Mr. & Mrs. Charles E.

Damon, Mrs. Lucy K.

Dana, Miss Ellen E.

Davis Mr. & Mrs. Charles B.

Davis, Fred G.

Davis, Mr. & Mrs. George O.

Doolittle, Oscar E.

Downing, Miss Bertha C.

Fiske, Miss Carrie.

Fiske, Miss Emma.

Fobes, Mr. & Mrs. Edwin F.

Fowle, Charles A., Jr.
Fox, Irving P., Mr. and Mrs.
Galloupe, Mr. & Mrs. Fred'k R.
Gibbons, Dr. Sherwin.
Gilmore, Mr. & Mrs. George L.
Goodwin, Mr. & Mrs. Charles C.
Goodwin, Mrs Emma F.
Gookin, Mrs. Frances S.
Gould, Miss Sarah B.
Goulding, Mr. & Mrs. George I,.
Greeley, Mrs. Hannah McLean.
Griffiths, Miss Helen E.
Hamilton, Rev. & Mrs. H. H.
Hamlin, D. D., Rev. Cyrus.
Hamlin, Miss Emma.
Harrington, Miss Clara W.
Harrington, Miss Ellen E.
Harrington, Miss Edith C.
Harrington, Miss Elvira.
Harrington, Miss Elizabeth W.
Harrington, Miss Martha M.
Herrick, Mr. & Mrs. Frank W.
Hudson, Miss Mary E.
Hunt, Miss Anstiss S.
Hunt, Miss Alice M.
Hunt, Mrs. E. M.
Jackson, Mrs. Mary C.
Kauffman, Charles G.
Kirkland, Miss Marion P.
Lane, Ralph E.
Locke, Mr. & Mrs. Alonzo E.
Locke, Mrs. Amos.
Locke, Miss Etta M.
Locke, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert G.

XXVlll.

MEMBERS.

Locke, Hon. Warren B.
Merriam, Mr. and Mrs. Edw. P.
Milne, Mr. & Mrs. George D.
Mitchell, Abbott S.
Mulliken, Mrs. Adeline M.
Mulliken, Miss Amelia M.
Mulliken, Everett M.
Munroe, Miss M. Alice.
Munroe, Miss Elmina.
Munroe, Howard M.
Munroe, Mrs. Helen H.
Munroe, Mr. & Mrs. James P.
Munroe, James S.
Munroe, William H.
Nichols, Miss Emma O.
Nichols, Mr. and Mrs. Edward P.
Nunn, Charles P.
Parker, Charles M.
Parker, Miss Elizabeth S.
Parsons, Mr. & Mrs. Albert S.
Peaslee, Mrs. Louise W.
Perkins, Dr. W. O.
Phinney, Miss Jane.
Pierce, Mr. & Mrs. Alfred.
Pierce, Mr. & Mrs. Charles F.
Pierce, Miss Gertrude.
Piper, Dr. Fred S.
Powers, Mr. & Mrs. Leland T.
Powers, Mrs. J. H.
Putnam, Mr. & Mrs. Henry H.
Raymond, Franklin F.
Raymond, Henry S.
Redman, A. M.
Reed, Mr. & Mrs. Hammon.
Robinson, Miss Frances M.
Robinson, Mr. & Mrs. F. O.
Robinson, Miss Sarah E.
Robinson, Mr. & Mrs. Theo. P.
Rolfe, Dr. & Mrs. Edward.
Russell, Mr. & Mrs. James F.
Sampson, Mr. & Mrs. George W.
Sampson, Mr. & Mrs. Hilman B.
Saville, Leonard A.
Scott, Hon. & Mrs. Augustus E.
Shaw, Elijah A.

Shaw, Miss Elsie L.
Sherburne, Mr. & Mrs. F. Foster
Sherburne, Mr. & Mrs. Warren.
Skerry, Miss Sara R.
Smith, A. Bradford.
Smith, George O.
Spaulding, Mr. & Mrs. Geo. W.
Staples, Rev. & Mrs. Carleton A.
Stevens, Rev. & Mrs. A. W.
Stevens, Ralph L.
Stone, George E.
Stone, Irving.

Stowell, Mr. & Mrs. George L.
Streeter, Mr. & Mrs. George H.
Taylor, Mrs. Julia A.
Tenney, Mr. & Mrs. Benj. F.
Thornton, Mrs. Annie C.
Thornton, Miss Mary C.
Thornton, Miss Elizabeth T.
Tilton, Dr. & Mrs. J. O.
Tower, Col. & Mrs. William A.
Tower, Miss Ellen M.
Tufts, Mr. & Mrs. Francis E.
Turner, Mr. & Mrs. J. Frank.
Tyler, Daniel G.
Valentine, Dr. & Mrs. Henry C.
Van Ness, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph.
Walker, Mr. & Mrs. E. W.
Washburn, Mr. & Mrs. A. C.
Wellington, Miss Caroline.
Wellington, Charles A.
Wellington, Cornelius.
Wellington, Miss Eliza.
Wellington, Walter.
Werner, Rev. James B.
Wetherbee, Mr. & Mrs. A. A.
Whiting, Mr. & Mrs. George O.
Whiting, Miss Grace.
Whitman, Miss Kate.
Willard, Mr. & Mrs. John H.
Wiswell, Mr. & Mrs. Charles H.
Worthen, George E.
Wright, Miss Abbie E.
Wright, Miss Emma E.

NECROLOGY.

Alderman, Franklin,
Babcock, Leonard G.,
Bowman, Mrs. Bliza Powell,
Clark, Mrs. Ruth B.,
Gammell, Mrs. Lucy,
Gookin, Samuel H.,
Greeley, William H.,
Gould, Arthur F.,
Ham, James N.,
Hastings, John,
Hayes, Mrs. Margaret M.,
Hunt, Lewis,

Hutchinson, Mrs. Mary L.,
Jones, George F.,
Locke, Amos,
Lord, Mrs. Kate T.,
Meredith, Rev. Irving,
Merriam, Mrs. Jane,
Merriam, Hon. Matthew H.,
Matthews, Capt. Richard,
Mills, Henry F.,
Mulliken, Emory A.,
Mulliken, William H.,
Munroe, Mrs. Alice B.,
Munroe, William R.,
Munroe, Henry A.,
Muzzey, George E.,
Paine, Francis B.,
Paine, George A.,
Parker, James,
Parker, Miss Esther T.,
Parker, Theo. J.,
Pitts, Mrs. Meta Wilson,
Porter, Rev. Edward G.,
Porter, D. D., Rev. George W.,
Putnam, Mrs. E. A.
Redman, Mrs. Emma S.,
Reed, Henry M.,
Robinson, George W.,
Saltmarsh, Dr. Seth,
Stackpole, Charles A.,

February 9, 1900

March 14, 1900

June 12, 1899

June 29, 1889

December 22, 1889

September 23, 1894

December 21, 1889

October 6, 1890

April 20, 1895

November 20, 1890

November 29, 1893

August 22, 1893

June 2, 1898

June 6, 1898

September 19, 1895

May 8, 1894

December 31, 1895

January 26, 1898

December n, 1893

1898
September 5, 1899
November 19, 1889
August 7, 1888
September 6, 1889
June 18, 1896
December 14, 1896

1889

March 22, 1890

March, 1898

June 20, 1892

January 26, 1897

February 5, 1900

March 2, 1896

January 23, 1896

December 27, 1898

June 27, 1895

December 16, 1893

February 8, 1897

December 16, 1890

NECROLOGY.

Saville, Mrs. Rebecca H.,
Simonds, Eli,
Simonds, Joseph F.,
Smith, Mrs. Caroline T.,
Smith, William H.,
Stone, Mrs. Alice A.,
Sumner, Mrs. Maria,
Tilton, Mrs. Harriett P.,
Thornton, Col. Charles C. G.,
Todd, Nathaniel M.,
Tyler, Mrs. Mary E.,
Viles, Mrs. Rebecca D.,
Wellington, Mrs. Caroline B.,
Wellington. Horatio,
Willis, Frank R.,
Wright, Ivuke W„
Wyman, Mrs. A. Theresa,

June 27, 1894

September 17, 1897

December 26, 1894

September 24, 1893

September 23, 1898

November 29, 1898

October 24, 1887

January 13, 1898

April 25, 1900

April 7, 1897

April 23, 1893

June 1, 1892

April 13, 1 891

April 22, 1888

December 4, 1898

INDEX.

Adams, Samuel, 148

Alcott, A. B., 150

Allen, Galen, 116, 194

Arnold, Gov. Benedict, 12

Baker, Walter, 163

Bartlett, Josiah, 67

Belfry Hill, 9, 133, 138

Bellingham, Governor, 10

Bent, David, 66, 99

Blanchard, John W., 174

Blodgett, Nathan, 20

Bond, The Misses, 53

Bowman, Francis, 40, 69, 1 1 3

Bowman, Jonathan, 163

Bridge, Jonas, 189, 194

Bridge, Matthew, 8, 164

Briggs, Rev. Chas., 37, 56, 69, 148

Brooks, Governor, 42

Brown's Brook 20, 31

Brown, Charles, 45

Brown, Francis, 31, 123, 151

Brown, James, 23, 31, 47, 145

Brown, John, 41

Brown, Solomon, 123

Buckman Tavern, 14, 63, 127

Bulkley, Rev. Peter, 5

Bryant, Josiah, 49* 1 1 1

Carline, Daniel, 174

Chandler, Nathan, 69, 91

Chandler, Samuel, 29, 55, 60, 76, 89, 91

Chandler, William, 76, 91

xxxii INDEX.

Clapp, William, 40

Crafts, Rev. Mr. 148

Cutler, Nathaniel, 103

Cutter Stephen, 55

Davis Tavern, 146

Dimick, Calvin, 173

Downing Family, 51, 189, 194

Dudley, Governor, 10

Dudley Tavern, 27, 62, 88

Dwight, John S., 149

Eight-Mile Line, 8

Emerson, R. W., 149

Estabrook, Benjamin 15, 58, 132, 160

Estabrook, Joseph, 14, 131, 160

Everett, Edward, 77, 94

Fessenden Family, 35, 39, 56, 164

Fire Department, 37

Fisk, David, 133

Fiske, Thaddeus, 167

Fiske, Timothy, 160

Follen, Charles, 148

Fur Dressing, 31, 145, 171

Gambodella, 154

Gammell Family, 173, 174, 195

Gleason, William, 91

Granny's Hill, 59, 90

Greene, Benjamin, 58, 167

Hancock Bible, 140

. Hancock, Ebenezer, 163

Hancock, John, 161

Harrington, Abijah, 56, 69, 93, 128

Harrington, Charles, 46

Harrington, Daniel, 92

Harrington, Jonathan, 42

Harrington, Nathaniel, 61, 141

Harrington, Robert, . - 43, 47

Harrington, Solomon 30, 91

Harrington, Timothy, 165

INDEX. xxxiii

Hastings, Miss E. A 203

Herlarkenden Family, 6, 9, 10, 131

Highway Repairs, 19

Horton, Michael, 39

Hosmer, Hammond, 58

Hudson, Charles, 96

Hudson's " History of Lexington," 22, 45, 185

Inventory of John Munroe Estate, 136

Johnson, David, 61

"Kite End," 99

Kossuth, Louis, 96

" Ladies' Circle," 197

Lafayette 75, 92, 155, 186

Lawrence, Isaac, 28

Lawrence, Fhineas, 49, 189, 194

Lexington Academy, 63

Lexington Artillery Company, 25, 89, 94

Lexington, Battle of, . . 31, 46, 56, 62; 69, 86, 93, 102, 112, 124, 141

Lexington Institute, 148

Lexington Military Company, 85,111

Lexington Rifle Rangers, 30,91,94

Lexington Village, 5, 132

Locke, Jonas, 27

Locke, Micajah, . 21

Locke, Oliver, 60,91,118

Locke, Stephen, 108

Lothrop, S. L., 154

Mackintosh, R. J., 154

Malt House Lane, 133

Mason Family, 50

Masonic Lodge, . . 44, 53

May, Samuel J., 15c

Mead Family, 60

Melvin, Mr., 147

Merriam Family, 63

Milk Business, 187

Monument House, 53, 55, 59

Morrell, Ambrose, 31,76,172,179

XXXIV

INDEX.

Mount Independence,
Mulliken, £. A.,
Mulliken Family,
Munroe, Ebenezer,
Munroe, Edmund,
Munroe, John,
Munroe, Jonas,
Munroe Jonathan,
Munroe, Marrett,
Munroe, Nathan,
Munroe Tavern,
Munroe, William,
Musters,
Muzzey, Amos,
Muzzey, Benjamin,
Muzzey, John,

Nelson, Dr. John,

Olnhausen, Mary von,

Parker, Isaac,
Parker, Mrs. Isaac,
Parker, Capt. John,
Parker, Obadiah,
Parker, Theodore,
Pearce, Josiah,
Pelham Family,
Penney, David,
Pierce, Abner,
Pierce, Cyrus,
Pierce, Daniel,
Pierce, Eben,
Pierce, Nathaniel,
Pierce, P. P.,
Pierce, Reuben,
Pierpont, John,
Pillsbury, Parker,
Phillips, Jonathan,
Phinney Family,

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